It is possible to brush a ferret's teeth with a softy baby toothbrush or even just cotton-tip applicators. Enzymatic toothpastes used for cats work well as does plain baking soda. Brushing daily is best but even once a week or once every two weeks is better than nothing at all.

Ferrets have a brachyodont dentition, with 28 to 30 deciduous teeth, and 34 permanent teeth. The dental formula of an adult ferret is 2(I 3/3; C 1/1; P 3/3; M 1/2). Plaque accumulation mineralizes and becomes calculi, which allows an overgrowth of bacteria on the crown and at the edge of the gingiva.

There is no toothpaste specifically for ferrets but you can use cat or dog versions. Pet pastes can be found in any pet outlet and come in flavors like poultry or vanilla mint.

Teething: Like puppies and kittens, ferrets will lose their baby teeth as their adult teeth grow in. This process is usually complete by about nine months of age, so if you have a young ferret, it may bite due to teething if its gums are sore.

Never use human toothpaste or baking soda for brushing your pet's teeth. It could make your pet very sick. Also, they do not like the taste and much prefer the taste of toothpaste made for pets.

Symptoms of Dental Disease in Ferrets Halitosis. Red gums. Inflamed, swollen gums. Broken or chipped teeth. Brown or yellow tinted teeth. Tooth abscesses. Bleeding from the gum line.

You can check for signs of tooth-pain such as: Drooling or wetness around the mouth. Swelling, pain or inflammation around jaw and under chin. Changes in the type of food your ferret will eat, eg from hard to soft foods.