Cats have two sets of teeth, like humans. The baby or milk teeth, which fall out before 6 months old, and the permanent teeth, intended to last through life. These teeth start to emerge between 3 and 5 months of age. Teething troubles occur rarely, the only sign usually being a baby tooth found in the cat’s bed or bowl.
Cats are carnivores so their teeth are made for fighting, killing and tearing the prey apart. There are no teeth with flat surfaces for chewing food.
Very few people look inside their cat’s mouths, but it is an important part of their care.

DENTAL DISEASE

CAUSE – this common problem starts when tartar builds up on the surface of the tooth. This pushes the gums away from the tooth roots, exposing the tooth socket to infection. The tooth becomes wobbly and painful. Eventually, there is nothing left to hold the tooth in place and it falls out. Many cats have chronic, long-standing infections in their mouths due to untreated dental disease. Not only is this unpleasant, but the bacteria can occasionally spread to other parts of the body
Tartar accumulates on teeth that are not used. In the wild, the teeth are continually being scraped and rubbed when the cat tears the skin of a rabbit, or feathers and bones of a bird, like the action of a toothbrush. Modern tinned food, while supplying all the necessary nutrients for a cat, does not give this abrasive action. Crunching dried cat food every day certainly helps to clean the teeth and can be a useful preventative measure.
Certain breeds are more prone to getting dental disease such as the Siamese and Burmese. Also there can occasionally be an underlying disease such as kidney problems or viruses which will need investigated.

SIGNS - the tartar is easy to see on the teeth, and swollen, red or bleeding gums are an indication of infection. Often the cat has foul smelling breath – halitosis. They may rub their mouths or seem uncomfortable when eating. It is very important to examine inside your cat’s mouth regularly.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION – when tartar build-up is excessive and there is infection present, your vet will recommend a dental scale and clean up, under general anaesthetic. There may be some teeth that require extraction because they are insecure or very infected. It is difficult for the vet to say how many teeth will need extracted until the tartar has been removed during the scaling, and he can then see all the teeth clearly. The cat may also be given a course of antibiotics. After the dental treatment, the cat will be much happier and eat better. Prevention can be difficult – feeding a dried food helps, as can tooth brushing, if the cat will let you. There are also products available for your cat to chew or gels to help prevent bacteria building up– your vet can advise you.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It is common where there is tartar accumulation, but can occur when this is not involved. The gums may become very raw, and eating is very painful. Treatment for this condition can be prolonged and recurrence is common.
Dental decay is becoming more and more common in cats. They suffer from a unique type of cavities called Feline Osteoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORLS) or neck lesions. These are painful cavities in the neck of the tooth, which is where the tooth meets the gum. The only effective treatment is extraction of the tooth by the vet.

CANCER OF THE TONGUE
This affects older cats. Usually difficulty eating is the first sign, or blood coming from the mouth. The cat will have smelly breath. You may see the swollen and eroded area of the tongue at the back of the mouth. There is no effective treatment, although in the very early stages cryotherapy (freezing) may be worth trying. Consult your vet.

ULCERS
Ulcers can appear on the tongue as a result of the cat flu virus infection. They can appear quite quickly, and cause a great deal of pain and salivation. They usually respond rapidly to treatment.
Rodent ulcers are a different condition. They are thickened raw patches on the lips (usually the upper lip). It looks very painful, but most cats are not too worried by them, usually just licking the area. Various treatments are available – consult your vet.

INJURIES
Mouth injuries are common, especially after road traffic accidents. Broken jaws are 50 times more likely in cats than in dogs. Cats recover surprisingly well from multiple jaw fractures after an operation by your vet to put the bones back in place, often using surgical wire. Assisted feeding might be necessary for a couple of weeks until the cat can feed himself.
Small bones can become stuck on the back teeth and wedge the mouth open. The cat can be quite distressed, pawing at its mouth, salivating and trying to be sick. A loose tooth that has moved out of place can have the same effect.
When a cat seems unhappy with its mouth, do open the mouth and have a look. If you are concerned, see the vet. Your vet will also check the cat’s mouth routinely whenever the cat is at the surgery for an examination.

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