Dental Disease In Cats

Dental disease in cats can cause problems with eating, tooth loss, and infection. Most cases of dental disease, also called periodontal disease, are preventable with proper dental care at home and with a veterinarian. Daily brushing of the cat’s teeth can prevent cat dental disease. If possible, the routine of brushing a cat’s teeth every day should begin when the cat is a kitten. This will help maintain feline dental health and prevent problems of the cat resisting having its teeth brushed as an adult.

Brushing of the cat’s teeth should be part of the cat’s daily care. A cat owner should also check the cat’s mouth a few times a month for any signs of dental problems. The sooner dental problems in cats are spotted and treated, the better chance that the problem can be reversed.

Symptoms of periodontal disease in cats are bad breath, reddened gums, yellowish or brown deposits on the teeth, drooling, and receding gums. The cat drool may contain blood. The cat may have pain or difficulty while eating. Cats with dental disease may have difficulty closing their mouths. Symptoms that affect the cat’s ability to close the mouth or chew indicate a severe problem that requires veterinary care.

When a cat’s teeth are neglected, plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. The plaque is the yellowish deposits on the cat’s teeth. Tartar forms when plaque is not cleaned from the teeth. Tartar can irritate the cat’s gums and cause the teeth to become loose. The irritation of the gums is called gingivitis. Tartar buildup can also create gaps between the teeth and gums. Bacteria can grow in these gaps. The bacterial growth can lead to infection and the formation of abscesses.

Some cats may be more prone to cat dental disease. A tendency to develop feline periodontal disease may be inherited. Also, if a cat has not lost all of its baby teeth, called milk teeth, these can encourage feline dental disease because food can become trapped between the milk teeth and adult teeth. Persian cats may be more susceptible to feline dental disease since they have small mouths that may be somewhat overcrowded. A cat with overcrowded teeth may tend to get more food stuck between its teeth.