Gum disease, usually gingivitis, is often found in cats of only three years of age. Cats also lose or break their teeth as they get older. Both cases could be painful for the cat; they certainly necessitate a trip to the vet and could lead to more serious illness.
Many older cats are taken to the vet for a scale and polish under anaesthetic, which can be traumatic for both the cat and the keeper's wallet!
Prevention Better than Cure
The best solution to dental health issues in cats is the preventive one. A good diet in early years is important to dental health for cats, with a high meat content, balanced with vegetables and starch.
It is also highly advisable to clean cat teeth on a weekly, if not a twice weekly basis, to prevent tartar and plaque build-up.
Adult cats don't take too kindly to the process if unfamiliar with it, which is another reason that it is best introduced into the routine of the cat as a kitten. Kittens grow their permanent teeth at three to four months old.
With the kitten relaxed, a finger can be rubbed gently along the outside of the teeth and around the kitten's mouth in a gentle yet exploratory fashion. A reward afterwards, possibly heaps of praise rather than a food treat immediately, will help reinforce acceptance of the routine.
At later stages, special cat toothbrushes which slip over the finger and cat toothpaste will be used. These are not tolerated by all cats, so the toothpaste is often appropriately flavoured as cat food or chicken, etc, to help things along. In circumstances where the toothbrush is the problem, using the toothpaste on a finger is much better than no cleaning of teeth at all.
Gums can be kept healthy and tartar build-up reduced in young and old cats by giving them something suitable to chew, for example special biscuits, dried meat or a strong bone. Bones should not be chicken bones which can splinter and/or lead to choking.
Cat Dental Checks
A cat's teeth should look clean, and its breath smell sweet in normal circumstances. Tartar on animal teeth is yellow or brown similar to humans, though usually much worse. Red, inflamed gums and bad breath are the other obvious signs of potential problems.
Teeth can be broken accidentally even if cared for from young. A common sign of possible fracture in teeth can be continuous sneezing by the cat. If the cat is refusing to eat for no other apparent reason, this can often indicate that its teeth are painful.
A further sign of discomfort or dental issues is persistent face scratching, especially though not only around its mouth.
If any of the above signs are observed and persistent, at this point a trip to the vet is the best course of action.
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