• Plaque is a soft film of bacteria, saliva and food that develops on the surface of the teeth. Left undisturbed, it hardens. Hard, calcified plaque is known as dental ‘tartar’ or ‘calculus’.   

• Tartar is clearly visible and looks like a cream/yellow or brown hard deposit on the tooth surface. Because it’s hard, it can’t be removed by brushing your cat’s teeth - a dental scale and polish, performed by your vet under an anaesthetic, is usually required to remove it.    

• Gingivitis in cats is inflammation of the gums. It’s extremely common, found in cats of all ages, and varies widely in severity.    

Mild gingivitis – very common in cats of all ages, doesn’t affect the tooth root and dental home care such as toothbrushing can easily reverse most cases.   

Moderate gingivitis – also very common, the gum has started to separate from the tooth, providing a perfect site for food, bacteria, plaque, and tartar to accumulate.   

Severe gingivitis – this can be very painful for your cat and is common in cats with a lot of plaque and tartar on their teeth. Gum recession may occur, your cat will likely require a general anaesthetic so that your vet can scale and polish your cat’s teeth – in cases where the tooth roots have been exposed, teeth may need to be removed.  

• Periodontitis is a very advanced gum disease, and it’s more commonly seen in older cats. The gums are usually very inflamed. Large amounts of tartar are usually present on the teeth. Exposure of the tooth root and causing the tooth to be very unstable. Bacterial infection is common, and pus may be seen surrounding the tooth, tooth extraction is the only treatment option.  

• Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a condition where inflammation spreads from the gums to other areas of the mouth. Stomatitis means inflammation inside the mouth. The exact cause of this disease is still unknown, though it seems to happen when a cat’s immune system responds too aggressively to the presence of bacteria or other infectious agents in the mouth. Some cases are associated with persistent cat flu virus and FIV and FELV viruses. Various treatments may be used, but in very severely affected cats, extraction of the cheek teeth may be the only option.  

• Feline resorptive lesions (FRLs) are common in both young and old cats, with more than 70% of cats over the age of five years estimated to have at least one FRL. A feline resorptive lesion is an erosion in the tooth and can be difficult to identify, but they appear as a small amount of gum growing out of the tooth. FRLs can be diagnosed using dental X-rays or by probing the teeth under general anaesthetic.  FRLs are extremely sensitive, and cats will often show signs of pain. Left untreated, they cause gradual erosion of the tooth to the point where the crown will fracture off, leaving the root behind.   

• Fractured teeth need to be assessed individually before deciding if removing them is necessary. Teeth that have fractured are likely to need extraction, as the tooth will be painful and at risk of developing an infection and tooth root abscess.  

Many cats do not display signs of dental disease that their owners can detect. If your cat does show signs, they may include:  

• pawing at the mouth  

• head shaking, or jaw chattering

• chew with obvious discomfort    

• drop food from their mouth   

• swallow with difficulty  

• drooling excessively and saliva may contain blood  

• halitosis (bad breath) is also common  

• grooming less  

• wobbly teeth 

If you think your cat may have a dental issue or immediately if your cat is unable to close his/her mouth or stop eating.  

To detect hidden disease, it is important that your cat has complete oral examinations under general anaesthetic, ideally with mouth (intraoral) X-rays, beginning early in the cat’s life.

Treatment will depend on the problem but often includes:   

• Pain relief, to keep your cat comfortable   

• A dental scale and polish under general anaesthetic to remove plaque and tartar build-up 

• Tooth removal, if severe dental disease is discovered  

• Antibiotics may sometimes be warranted with enough evidence to treat a bacterial infection

The best way to prevent gingivitis in cats is to regularly remove plaque built up by toothbrushing. It is important to use only tooth gel or toothpaste designed specifically for cats, as human products can be toxic to them. If your cat does not allow toothbrushing, at least try to wipe the teeth with a gauze pad every two or three days. Some treats and oral rinses, and dry foods can also help to remove plaque.   

Regular check by the vet generally at the booster vaccination time is a good way to prevent dental problems.

Fortunately, the most common forms of these diseases are preventable or treatable with appropriate dental care and monitoring.