How can i tell if my cat has dental problems or bad breath?

You may chew with obvious discomfort, drop food from your mouth, swallow with difficulty, or drool excessively. Halitosis (bad breath) is also common. Dental diseases and oral pain may explain some cats' picky appetites. Cats have a rough tongue with spikes called papillae on their tongue.

Their tongue is important for grooming and eating their furry prey in the wild. When their mouths hurt, cats can eat food using only their tongues. This can cause kibble to fill your stomach and cause chronic vomiting after eating. Unfortunately, many cats still don't show external signs of oral pain when faced with dental disease.

They will often continue to eat because their survival instinct when eating is very strong. Changes in eating habits or a reluctance to eat are the most obvious signs of dental disease. Your cat may go to your plate but refuse to eat because of the pain. Or maybe he just takes a few bites before giving up.

Cats with dental diseases can also drop food when trying to eat or even whistle on the food plate after trying to eat. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to your cat's behavior and habits, in addition to regular dental care and annual dental checkups performed by the veterinarian, to monitor your cat's oral health. Studies indicate that 50 to 90% of cats over the age of four suffer from some type of dental disease, but thankfully the most common forms of these diseases can be prevented or largely treated with adequate preventive dental care and control. While brushing your teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste, such as Vetoquinol enzadent enzymatic toothpaste, is a good option, there are other dental care options for cats available that help reduce plaque and tartar build-up.

While some cats require a gradual introduction before they can brush their teeth regularly, most cats can eventually be trained to accept this preventive measure. Insuring your cat for any signs of illness is the best way to ensure that you have all the support you need to care for him. Making sure your cat gets regular dental care is the best way to prevent problems such as tooth pain and infections. Seek immediate veterinary care if you have any reason to suspect that your cat may be experiencing tooth or gum pain.

If a cat has severe gingivitis, brushing their teeth can be quite painful, so check with a vet before thinking about brushing the teeth of a cat with gingivitis.