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I was completely shocked when my vet told me my kitty needed dental work. It seemed too human a malaise for my little fur ball who had shown no signs of difficultly chowing down on his Newman's Own Organic turkey and vegetable dinners. Rest assured, the vet pulled back his gums to point out the pockets of decay taking root in his gums. Had I known there were preventative measures, my cat may have been spared the pain, and my wallet may have been spared the blow. Avoid surgery (and the pharmaceutical drugs that typically follow) with this alternative brushing tip to keep the tiny teeth in tip-top shape.1. Prepare by spreading a little bit of all-natural cat toothpaste like Vet's Best Dental Tooth Care, on a finger brush.

2. Lure Fluffy into your arms with an organic treat like PetGuard's Purrlicious, which helps promote tartar control.

3. Dab a little bit of wet cat food on the finger brush and let him taste it, getting him used to having the brush in his mouth.

4. Once kitty seems relaxed, slowly begin to massage its gums.

5. Substitute the cat food with the toothpaste.

If your favorite feline more closely resembles a squirmy worm during these at-home brushings, consider holistic, brush-free dental methods instead. There are several natural gels and sprays available containing gentle yet bacteria-killing extracts and herbs like grapefruit seed and peppermint oil.

Difficulty level: Easy