Moderate severity

Dental Disease

Over 80% of cats over age 3 have some degree of dental disease. Often silent but painful.

⚠️ Common symptoms

Bad breathDroolingDifficulty chewingPawing at faceRed gums

Dental disease is the most prevalent health problem in adult cats, affecting over 80% of cats by age 3. Yet it remains one of the most commonly overlooked conditions, partly because cats instinctively hide pain, and partly because owners rarely examine their cat's mouth.

The disease progresses in well-defined stages. Stage 1 is gingivitis — reversible inflammation of the gums caused by plaque bacteria. With professional cleaning and good home care, the gums can fully recover. Stage 2 involves early periodontitis with beginning bone loss. Stages 3 and 4 involve severe bone destruction, tooth mobility, and significant pain.

Feline tooth resorption (TR) — previously called FORLs — is a separate and extremely painful condition unique to cats. The tooth root is attacked by specialised cells called odontoclasts, causing progressive destruction from the inside. By some estimates, 30–70% of adult cats have at least one resorbing tooth. The only treatment is extraction.

Professional dental cleaning requires general anaesthesia. This is not optional — thorough cleaning requires probing every tooth at the gumline, taking dental radiographs (which reveal 30–40% more disease than visual exam alone), and scaling subgingival tartar. While anaesthesia carries small risks, untreated dental disease causes chronic pain, systemic infection (bacteria enter the bloodstream during chewing), and eventual tooth loss.

Home brushing, started as a kitten, is dramatically more effective than any other preventive measure. The aim is to disrupt plaque daily before it mineralises — even brushing every 2–3 days provides meaningful benefit over nothing.

🔍 Causes

Plaque accumulates on teeth within hours of eating. Without removal, it mineralises into hard tartar within days. Tartar harbours bacteria that inflame the gums (gingivitis), then attack the ligaments and bone anchoring the teeth (periodontitis). Cats are also uniquely prone to tooth resorption — a painful process where the tooth's own structure breaks down from the inside.

🛡 Prevention

Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard. Use a soft-bristled finger brush and enzymatic cat toothpaste (never human toothpaste — fluoride is toxic). Dental treats (VOHC-approved), water additives, and dental diets offer meaningful secondary support. Feeding some dry food helps, but wet food is nutritionally superior — choose dental-specific formulas if using dry.

💊 Treatment

Professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia, tooth extraction if needed, regular home brushing.

When to see a vet: Have your vet examine your cat's mouth at every annual check-up. Book an urgent appointment if your cat stops eating, paws at its face, has obviously inflamed or bleeding gums, or develops sudden severe bad breath. Professional cleaning under general anaesthesia is required once tartar accumulates — dental tartar cannot be safely removed in an awake cat.

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⚕️ Medical disclaimer

  • This information is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
  • Symptoms overlap between conditions — only a vet can diagnose accurately.
  • Never withhold treatment or self-medicate based on information found online.
  • When in doubt, call your vet. Early intervention almost always leads to better outcomes.

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