How to Keep Kitty’s Teeth Healthy

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

It is important to take your cat to its dentist annually. Teeth are very important to your cat! What many people don’t realize is, dental health plays a big role in overall health. Whenever your cat goes to the vet, discuss your cat’s dental health with your vet. If your cat is exhibiting strange eating habits, take him/her to a vet to make sure dental problems aren’t an issue.

Kittens have fewer teeth than adult cats. Each kitten has 26 temporary teeth that begin to appear at about three weeks of age. An adult cat will have 30 permanent teeth—16 on the top and 14 on the bottom. A cat usually begins getting his or her permanent teeth when he or she is three of four months old. Some of these teeth will have two roots while others will have three.

Reapportion lesions and gum disease (gingivitis) are the most common kinds of dental problems for cats. Reapportion lesions are also known as cervical line lesions or neck lesions and often result in tooth loss. These lesions are difficult to detect, as they often grow below the gum line. Gum disease is found in over 70% of cats by the age of three. You should look for yellow and brown tarter build up along the gum line and over the tooth. Red inflamed gums, and chronic bad breath are also symptoms.

If your cat has oral disease, get it a complete checkup. Oral disease could be a harbinger for more serious problems. For example, it is common for a cat with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) to have oral health problems. Dental problems are also commonly found with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline calicivirus. Therefore, if your pet is having dental problems, you need to see a vet right away to make sure it doesn’t have a more serious disease.

Cats occasionally accidentally break teeth. This is normal. It can be a result of a fall, a fight with another cat or other animal, or biting into something too hard to chew. Usually, the upper canine tooth will be the tooth fractured. This is the tooth in your cat’s mouth that looks like a large fang. If this is fractured, your cat may or may not be in pain. The first symptom of this kind of a fracture is continuous sneezing.

Oral health is important to all mammals. Cats are susceptible to a number of dental disease and problems, just like humans. By taking your cat to the vet often and asking about oral health, you can make sure that you are providing the best health care for your feline friend’s teeth.