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Feline dental disease: the basics
Short answerDental disease in cats usually starts as plaque, a bacterial film that forms on the teeth after meals. Plaque that isn't removed mineralizes into tartar, and bacteria along the gumline cause gingivitis - red, inflamed gums that can be reversed with care. Left alone, inflammation can advance to periodontitis, which destroys the tissue and bone holding the teeth and can't be reversed, only managed. Studies summarized by Cornell's Feline Health Center report that between 50 and 90 percent of cats older than four years have some form of dental disease, and cats are good at hiding the pain that comes with it.
The progression, stage by stage
- Plaque.A soft bacterial film that forms on teeth continuously. Brushing is the gold standard for removing it - VOHC's words - and daily use of VOHC-accepted products can also help keep teeth clean.
- Tartar (calculus). Plaque that mineralizes and bonds to the tooth. It's the hard yellow-brown crust you can sometimes see near the gumline, and it gives bacteria a rough scaffold to keep multiplying on. Once it's there, only a professional cleaning removes it.
- Gingivitis. Inflamed, reddened gums, usually worst where the gum meets the tooth. At this stage the damage is still reversible with proper care.
- Periodontitis. Inflammation reaches deeper, destroying the attachment between tooth and jaw. Teeth loosen, roots abscess, and the loss is permanent. This is the stage where cats lose teeth that could have been saved earlier.
Signs owners actually notice
What owners tend to notice: bad breath that isn't just "cat breath", redness along the gumline, drooling, dropping food or chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth, or a new preference for wet food over dry. Any of these is worth a vet visit rather than a wait-and-see.
Why it matters
Cornell notes that dental disease can cause serious pain and discomfort, which can affect a cat's quality of life, and that in many cases it causes a cat to stop eating, which leads to other health problems. The practical takeaway: the most common forms are largely preventable or treatable with appropriate preventive dental care and monitoring - a combination of home care and periodic professional cleaning, covered in the next guides.
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