An alarming number of cats have bad breath, gingivitis, plaque or tartar. In this interview, vet Dr. Simone Radicke reveals the most common dental problems in cats, how you can recognize them and what perfect dental care looks like.
animonda: How are cats' teeth structured?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
Cats have typical carnivorous teeth. It consists of the incisors, the canines (also called fangs) and the front (premolars) and rear molars. The kitten's dentition comprises 26 teeth, the permanent dentition 30 teeth. As in human medicine, the dentition of animals is described using a dental formula:
in the upper jaw: 3 I 1 C 3 P 1 M
in the lower jaw: 3 I 1 C 2 P 1 M
I = Incisivi (incisor); C = Caninus (canine); P = Premolar (anterior molar); M = Molar (posterior molar)
This dental formula means that the adult cat has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars and 1 molar in the upper jaw. In the lower jaw there are correspondingly 3 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 1 molar.
animonda: What are the functions of a cat's teeth?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
The cat is a carnivore, i.e. a meat eater, the entire dentition is therefore geared towards capturing or grinding meat. As the name suggests, the fangs are designed to grab and hold the prey. In addition to the fangs, the front molars are also pointed. They are also known as fangs; their pointed, sharp structure allows them to tear the prey or meat.
Unlike us, the rear molars have no grinding surface, but they can cut bones into small pieces. The cat's teeth are therefore ideally adapted to eating prey.
animonda: What are the most common dental and mouth diseases in cats?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
Tartar is one of the most common diseases. Starting from a coating on the teeth, it comes into contact with the minerals in the saliva and tartar forms. This not only impairs dental health, the sharp edges of the tartar also irritate the gums. In addition, bacteria can settle in the space between the tartar and the tooth or gum and lead to inflammation.
This inflammation of the gums is known as gingivitis. If it is not treated, the inflammation of the gums can progress further and gum pockets can form, in which germs can colonize. At an advanced stage, this is periodontitis. The gums then recede and expose the neck of the tooth. Infections of the gum pockets also lead to tooth root abscesses. Very severe damage to the basic structure can then lead to the loss of the tooth. If several teeth are diseased and the entire mouth area of the cat is inflamed, this is known as stomatitis.
Such inflammations in the mouth area can result in the tooth substance dissolving and holes appearing in the teeth; this is known as a FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion).
animonda: Dental problems in cats - How does toothache manifest itself?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
Toothache is most obvious when there is a loss of appetite and the cat stops eating. The attentive cat owner will also notice that the cat is losing saliva in long strings and is "drooling". Sometimes one-sided chewing can also be observed or unusual noises can be heard while eating.
The cat may have difficulty swallowing or drop individual chunks of food. Signs of pain when eating are manifested by startling, hissing or scratching at the mouth. If the mouth or gums are inflamed, there may be a strong bad breath. Swelling of the face may indicate an oral abscess. If there is a close relationship between the cat owner and the cat, the cat may communicate the pain by meowing slightly. A subtle chattering of teeth ("chattering") can also be heard. The cat also shakes its head more often and touches its mouth with its paw. A tilted head posture or teeth grinding can also be an indication of painful dental disease.
animonda: What consequences can dental disease have in cats?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
There are bacteria under the tartar and in dental pockets which attack the gums and lead to painful inflammation. This inflammation can spread to the periodontium and lead to a purulent inflammation. This inflammation leads to a breakdown of the gums, jawbone and teeth, which eventually become loose and fall out. Bacteria as well as bacterial toxins enter the bloodstream and lead to diseases in various organs such as the liver, heart and kidneys.
animonda: How are dental diseases diagnosed in cats?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke
Tartar and dental disease in cats can usually be diagnosed by close inspection of the oral cavity. Deposits in the interdental spaces and on the tooth surfaces are immediately obvious, as is reddening of the gums. If the changes have been present for a long time and the cat is in pain, an x-ray of the jaw should also be taken to check whether there are any changes to the tooth roots or jawbone.
animonda: How is gingivitis treated in cats?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
The treatment depends on the type and severity of the tooth and/or gum disease. An antibiotic is often given first in order to kill the bacteria and prevent their spread during the subsequent measures, as well as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Old household remedies sometimes have a supportive effect. These include aloe vera, for example. The medicinal plant can be applied as a juice or gel to affected areas.
animonda: How does tartar removal work in cats?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
The tartar is usually removed under anesthesia with the help of a special ultrasound device. Once the deposits on the teeth and in the interdental spaces have been removed, the cat's teeth are polished to create a smooth tooth surface. This makes it more difficult for new plaque to form. All loose teeth are removed.
animonda: What is the treatment for feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL)?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
As the cause of FORL has not yet been clearly identified, FORL cannot be cured. In order to spare the cat unnecessary pain, painkillers are given and severely affected teeth are extracted under anesthesia. As it can be assumed that more and more teeth will be affected over time, the cat must be examined regularly and affected teeth extracted accordingly. As it can be assumed that the cat will eventually have no more teeth, it is being discussed whether all teeth should be extracted during the first procedure. A cat can live very well without teeth because, as a carnivore, it does not chew thoroughly anyway and usually simply gobbles down its food.
animonda: How can I care for my cat's teeth?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
There are various options for dental care and hygiene in cats. One of the most common measures is brushing the teeth with appropriate toothbrushes or finger sticks. To make this possible for the cat as well as the cat owner without major stress, it is important to get the cat used to brushing its teeth at a young age. Practice this carefully in small steps and without stress or pressure. However, the market also offers dental care sprays and dental care gels to maintain your cat's dental health and prevent plaque and, consequently, tartar.
animonda: How often should cats have their teeth cleaned?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
To maintain a cat's dental health, regular check-ups are recommended. This depends on the condition of the cat's teeth. Regular check-ups are recommended if tartar has repeatedly appeared. If necessary, the teeth should be cleaned of tartar and polished once or twice a year. If FORL is already present, the frequency should be increased. It is also important to pay attention to possible signs of pain (see above) in order to spare the cat suffering and to be able to intervene therapeutically in good time.
animonda: Which cat food helps against tartar?
Dr. vet med. Simone Radicke:
You have to bear in mind that offering an appropriate "dental food" can only help to prevent plaque formation and subsequently the build-up of tartar. For this purpose, the dry food consists of larger chunks into which the teeth penetrate when "torn". The dry food thus rubs off any plaque. The addition of special components (dried meat/fish) increases chewing and thus prevents plaque formation. However, once there is a lot of tartar, these measures are usually not sufficient and a vet should be consulted.