Cat Dental Problems: Signs, Causes and Dental Care

Subtle signs of dental pain in cats

PDSA and Cats Protection list bad breath, drooling, red or bleeding gums, visible tartar, food dropping, chewing on one side, preference for soft food, reduced appetite, weight loss and poor grooming among common signs. Irritability, hiding or resisting touch around the head may be the only behavioural clue.

A cat may still crunch biscuits with significant disease because survival instincts mask weakness. Eating is not proof that the mouth is comfortable, and foul breath is not a normal feature of ageing.

• Changes at the bowl: hesitation, head tilting, food dropping or swallowing without chewing.
• Changes around the mouth: odour, saliva, blood, pawing, facial rubbing or swelling.
• Whole-cat changes: reduced grooming, a rough coat, weight loss, hiding or lower tolerance of handling.

Plaque, tartar and periodontal disease

Plaque is a soft bacterial film that forms on teeth. If it is not disrupted, minerals harden it into tartar. Inflammation begins at the gum margin as gingivitis and can progress into periodontal disease, damaging the tissues and bone that support the teeth.

Visible tartar shows only part of the problem. Disease below the gum line cannot be assessed accurately in an awake cat, which is why professional cleaning is more than a cosmetic scale of the tooth surface.

Tooth resorption and gingivostomatitis

Feline tooth resorption causes the structure of a tooth to break down and is extremely painful. PDSA reports that resorptive lesions affect more than a third of pet cats at some point. Affected teeth usually need extraction; brushing or antibiotics cannot rebuild them.

Gingivostomatitis is severe inflammation affecting much of the mouth. It can be associated with an exaggerated immune response and may occur alongside plaque or infectious disease. Cats need an individual treatment plan, which can include dental extractions and medical management.

What happens during a veterinary dental

The first step is an awake examination and health assessment. A complete dental procedure is normally performed under general anaesthetic so the airway is protected and every tooth can be probed, charted and cleaned above and below the gum line without pain or movement.

Dental x-rays reveal roots and bone that cannot be seen from the surface. Diseased or resorbing teeth may be extracted, and pain relief is planned around the procedure. Ask your practice what the estimate includes, because x-rays, blood tests, extractions and aftercare can change the total cost.

How to clean healthy cat teeth at home

Daily brushing with a cat-specific toothpaste is the most direct way to disrupt plaque, but introduce it gradually and only when the mouth is comfortable. Start with touching the cheek, progress to lifting the lip, then use a soft feline brush along the outside surfaces. Stop if the cat shows pain or fear.

Never use human toothpaste, which is not designed to be swallowed by cats. Dental diets and products accepted by a veterinary dental evidence scheme may help, but they do not replace assessment of an already painful mouth.

Dental checks and prevention

Ask for the mouth to be checked at routine health visits and look briefly at the gum line at home if your cat is relaxed. Flat-faced cats can have crowded teeth because the same number of teeth fit into a shorter jaw, which makes regular checks particularly useful.

Do not use metal tools to scrape tartar from an awake cat. This can injure the gums, fracture enamel, frighten the cat and leaves disease below the gum line untreated.