Dental care
Dental Disease in Cats: Signs, Treatment and Home Care
Gum disease and tooth resorption are very common in cats. Learn the subtle signs and what home care can help.
How common is it?
Most adult cats have some degree of dental disease. The two main problems are periodontal (gum) disease and tooth resorption, a painful condition where the tooth structure breaks down.
Subtle signs
Cats hide mouth pain well. Many still eat despite significant disease.
- Bad breath
- Dropping food or chewing on one side
- Preferring soft food
- Pawing at the mouth or drooling
- Red line along the gums
Treatment
Proper assessment needs a general anaesthetic, dental X-rays and cleaning above and below the gum line. Painful or resorbing teeth are usually extracted, and cats generally eat well afterwards.
Home care
Daily tooth brushing with a pet toothpaste is the most effective home care. Start slowly with treats and short sessions. Dental diets and chews with veterinary oral health approval can help some cats.
Frequently asked questions
- Is anaesthesia-free dental cleaning OK?
- Veterinary dental bodies advise against it: it cannot clean below the gum line or find hidden disease, and can be stressful.
References
- Global dental guidelines — WSAVA