By age three, most cats have some degree of dental disease. This is not a consequence of poor ownership — it is simply very common in the species, driven by genetics, diet, and the fact that cats do not brush their own teeth. Understanding feline dental health is one of the most important things a cat owner can do for their pet's long-term wellbeing.
Stages of Dental Disease
Periodontal disease begins with plaque — a sticky biofilm of bacteria that forms on teeth within hours of eating. If not removed, plaque hardens into tartar (calculus), which adheres firmly to tooth surfaces and irritates the gums. This progresses to gingivitis — red, swollen, bleeding gums. Left untreated, it advances to periodontitis — irreversible damage to the tooth's supporting structures, leading to tooth loss and potential infection entering the bloodstream.
Signs of Dental Problems
Cats are masters at hiding pain, so obvious signs like reluctance to eat may not appear until dental disease is severe. Watch for bad breath (beyond normal cat breath), drooling, pawing at the mouth, chewing on one side, dropping food, preferring wet food over dry, weight loss, and unusual irritability when the head or mouth is touched.
Professional Dental Cleaning
A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia is the only way to fully assess and treat dental disease in cats. During anesthesia, the veterinarian can probe each tooth, take dental X-rays, clean below the gumline where periodontal disease is most damaging, and extract teeth that cannot be saved. Anesthesia-free dental cleaning, by contrast, only addresses visible tartar and misses the most important disease below the gumline.