Dental disease in cats: signs, causes, and treatment

Contents:

• What is dental disease
• Signs of dental disease in cats
• What to do if your cat has dental disease
• FAQs about dental disease in cats

What is dental disease?

Dental disease includes inflammation of the gums and accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth. It’s one of the most common medical conditions seen in pets. Symptoms of dental disease include gingivitis (red, inflamed gums) and halitosis (bad breath). Dental disease is not only painful but can lead to early tooth loss. If left untreated, dental disease can contribute to certain heart, liver and kidney problems.

What causes dental disease in cats?

Dental disease occurs when a cat’s teeth are not cleaned regularly. Food, bacteria, and saliva stick to a cat’s teeth above and below their gum line, forming a layer of plaque. If this plaque is not removed, it calcifies over time, turning into tartar. This tartar causes inflammation, which in turn can lead to the potential infection and destruction of the cat’s gums, teeth, and surrounding bone.

Other factors that contribute to dental disease include genetics, infection, retained deciduous teeth, oral trauma, misaligned teeth or poor dentition.

If left untreated, the progression of dental disease will continue to damage the structures that support your cat’s teeth until they become loose and inevitably fall out. Severe cases of dental disease can contribute to certain heart, liver and kidney problems.

Fortunately, dental disease is easily preventable if you implement a regular dental routine for your cat and keep an eye out for signs of dental disease so you can treat it early.

How do I know if my cat has dental disease?

If your cat has dental disease, they may exhibit one of these common symptoms.

They have bad breath

One of the first signs of dental disease you might notice is an undesirable odour from your cat’s mouth. While no cat’s breath smells like roses, it shouldn’t smell unpleasant either. Halitosis, or bad breath in cats, can be caused by an excess of bacteria building up on your cat’s teeth or inflamed gums.

There is discolouration or build-up of plaque and tartar on their teeth

Your cat’s teeth should be pearly white in colour. Yellow and brown stains on teeth are a sign that plaque and tartar have built up and must be cleaned off. Plaque can be removed at home by cleaning their teeth with a toothbrush or dental chews. Tartar, however, needs to be professionally removed during a scale and polish by your veterinarian as it is too solid to be removed otherwise.

 

Their gums appear red and/or inflamed

Gingivitis, inflammation of the gums, is commonly seen with dental disease, and is painful for your cat. The more this disease progresses, the more the tooth is separated from the gums and structures that hold it in place. This damage is irreversible and eventually leads to early tooth loss if not managed.

They have difficulty eating

Dental disease is an uncomfortable experience for all pets, and the pain that develops in their teeth and gums can cause even the most voracious eaters to shy away from their food. You may notice your cat only eating from one side of their mouth, avoiding their dry food or swallowing it whole, or only eating wet food.

When cats avoid chewing with the painful part of their mouth, it allows more plaque and tartar to build up, worsening the disease.

It is very unlikely that they will lose their appetite altogether, so don’t rely on this as a sign of dental disease.

They paw at their mouth

If your cat is pawing or scratching at their own mouth, this is often an indicator that they’re experiencing oral or dental pain.

What do I do if my cat has dental disease?

If your cat is showing signs of dental disease, the first thing you should do is take them to your vet. Your vet will dental exam to assess your cat’s teeth and recommend a treatment plan to improve your cat’s dental health.

 

At home, you should implement a regular dental care routine. There are many things you can do to clean your cat’s teeth at home. Ideally, you’ll brush your cat’s teeth daily, but there are other options like feeding dental food and treats. Ask your vet what they recommend for your cat.

Regularly checking for signs of dental disease and implementing a daily dental care routine will help improve your cat’s dental health and help prevent dental disease.