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| Dental Disease In Cats |
Dental disease in cats
Veterinarians consider dental
diseases to be one of the most common medical conditions, and the most common
problems are due to gingivitis due to plaque buildup, dental resorption (which
were called cervical lesions or cunning oral resorption lesions), and gum
disease.
Dental diseases in cats are
widespread as more than half of all cats over the age of three have a certain
degree of dental diseases.
Clinical signs of dental diseases
It may not appear in many cats even though they're
in pain.
Signs of pain you may notice on
your cat: the head is shaking, or scratching in the mouth, and they may chew
food with obvious discomfort, as they drop food from their mouth, swallow with
difficulty, or they may drool excessively, or the bad breath smell is common.
Dental diseases cause anorexia,
will show a preference for wet or canned foods and many cats refuse dry foods. Read also: Can dogs and cats be infected with the Coronavirus?
Some cats may reluctantly approach
their own food bowl and then show a reluctance to eat and this leads to weight
loss, which may become noticeable over time, meaning that loss of appetite and
weight loss may be due to dental diseases and oral pain.
Causes of cat tooth problems
Tartar and the accumulation of
calculus on the teeth are the most common cause of dental diseases in cats, as
the roofs of the teeth are home to the bacteria that multiply and produce a
plate of plaque, during eating or by working from the cat tongue some of these
plaques are removed naturally, but the remaining plaque It causes inflammation
and gum disease.
It will be a full recovery if the
disease is caught in its early stages and a veterinary sizing is carried out
comprehensive teeth and polishing, but if gingivitis is allowed to continue
without treatment will occur gum disease.
Gum disease
Gum disease is inflammation or injury to the
bones or ligaments that support the tooth. These tissues are destroyed as the
disease progresses leading to eventual loss of teeth.
Bacteria can spread deep into the
tooth creating an abscess or even more difficult problems such as
osteoarthritis, as bacteria can spread through the blood follicle and lead to
infectious endocarditis that affects the valves inside the heart.
All these problems can be easily
avoided by getting rid of plaque and tartar.
Tooth resorption
tooth resorption is the gradual
destruction of the root of the teeth, which led to the slow deepening of
"holes" in the affected teeth, previously known as cunning oral
resorption lesions or cervical lesions.
When sensitive parts of the tooth
are exposed, these lesions become very painful, the cause of this disease is
not yet known, poor oral hygiene can play a role in the process of the disease.
Unfortunately, the only effective
treatment is tooth extraction. Read also: Renal Cat Food a Specialised Diet For Cats With Chronic Renal Failure.
If my cat has signs of dental problems, what should I do?
If you see that the cat has
evidence of tartar build-up, gingivitis, or shows any signs of mouth pain or
discomfort, you should take it to the veterinarian for an examination which may
include examining your cat's teeth, cleaning them, and x-raying.
In some cases, professional
cleaning may be required on a regular basis, every 6-12 months by a
veterinarian.
Do not try to remove tartar from
the teeth yourself, it may damage the surface of the tooth by creating
microscopic scratches that may then become infected with bacteria which makes
the problem worse.
Can I help prevent dental diseases in my cat?
Reducing the rate of plaque and
tartar accumulation on the teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease,
brushing teeth. Toothbrushes are specially designed for your cat's mouth, use
only cat toothpaste.
You cannot use human toothpastes,
because they contain ingredients that should not be swallowed and may cause
internal problems.
Ask your vet about the
recommended dental products for your cat for more details.