Our beloved cat can also experience teething pain from time to time, especially when it's a kitten. These furry friends are born without teeth, and as the weeks go by, their teeth gradually erupt and strengthen, causing discomfort and a need to bite during this period . That's precisely why we shouldn't let them bite us, even at a young age, as it can become a learned behavior that's difficult to correct later on.
However, we don't usually pay much attention to caring for this part of their body until they start showing more obvious symptoms, such as bad breath , difficulty eating, or even tooth loss. The problem is that cats tend to hide their pain and may continue eating despite feeling very uncomfortable, so the signs often appear when the disease is already advanced.
Therefore, we're going to explain how to tell if your cat has a toothache , what the most common causes are, what symptoms you should watch for, and what you can do to help with the help of a veterinarian, along with several preventative tips to care for their mouth from a young age.
Causes of tooth pain in cats
He's teething (teeth change)
It is often one of the most common causes of discomfort in young cats. Kittens are born without teeth, but their first milk teeth begin to erupt around 2-4 weeks of age . Later, approximately between the third and seventh month , they will grow their permanent teeth.
In total, when the process is complete, it will have 30 teeth : 12 incisors (6 upper and 6 lower), 4 canines (2 upper and 2 lower), 10 premolars (6 upper and 4 lower), and 4 molars (2 upper and 2 lower). The incisors are used to cut and tear small pieces of food, the canines to hold and kill prey , and the premolars and molars to cut and grind food.
During teething, it's normal for cats to chew on objects more, lick their gums frequently, chew more slowly, or eat less. They may also salivate more than usual or have mild bad breath . If fever, severe pain, or marked lethargy develop, you should take your cat to the vet to rule out complications such as retained baby teeth, fractures, or infections.
You have suffered trauma
If you've had an accident, fallen from a height, hit your head on a hard object, or been in a fight, you may have injured your teeth or even broken a tooth. Dental fractures, especially in the canines, are very painful and can expose the tooth pulp, with a risk of infection and inflammation of the jawbone.
In these cases, in addition to pain when chewing, you may observe cracked teeth , discoloration of a tooth, bleeding in the mouth, or a complete refusal to eat hard food. It is always a veterinary emergency, as treatment usually involves extraction or specific treatment of the affected tooth.
Do you have any infection or inflammation (tartar, gingivitis, and periodontal disease)?
If a cat hasn't received proper dental care throughout its life, plaque accumulates and mineralizes into tartar or dental calculus. This tartar forms a hardened, yellowish-brown layer that adheres between the gums and teeth, and also between the teeth themselves.
There comes a point when tartar becomes a breeding ground for infection , causing inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and the tissues that support the teeth, a condition known as periodontal disease. Symptoms may include red, sore gums, bleeding when chewing or touching the mouth, and, in the long run, loose teeth and even tooth loss. Treating gingivitis and professional ultrasonic cleaning are essential to halting this process.
In advanced stages, the infection can spread from the mouth to the rest of the body through the blood and cause more serious problems, such as heart or kidney damage , so it is not just an aesthetic issue.
Feline tooth resorption and other painful oral diseases
Feline tooth resorption is a very common and painful disease in cats, in which the enamel and tissue of the tooth are progressively destroyed. This causes the tooth to weaken, fracture at the gum line, or eventually fall out. It affects a very high percentage of cats, especially as they age, and often goes unnoticed if dental X-rays are not taken.
A cat with dental resorption may have trouble chewing, especially dry or very cold food, suddenly stop eating, drool, show red and swollen gums , or have teeth that appear broken or with defects at the neck of the tooth. Treatment consists of extracting the affected teeth under general anesthesia and a complete radiographic examination of the mouth.
In addition, there are other inflammatory and painful conditions such as feline chronic gingivostomatitis , in which the gums, oral mucosa, and sometimes the palate become inflamed. It is often associated with tartar buildup, viral diseases (such as calicivirus), food allergies, or resorptive processes, and causes intense pain manifested by excessive salivation, decreased appetite, lethargy, and aversion to having the face or mouth touched.
Oral cancer and tumors
If a cat has a tumor in its oral cavity , whether on the gums, tongue, jaw, or palate, it may experience significant pain, both in its teeth and surrounding tissues. This can prevent it from eating normally, cause severe bad breath, bleeding, facial deformities, or the appearance of visible lumps in the mouth.
Early diagnosis through veterinary examination, biopsy and complementary tests is key to assessing whether it is possible to operate, remove part of the jaw or apply other palliative treatments that improve the quality of life of the cat.
How do you know if your teeth hurt?
Sometimes it's difficult to detect dental pain in cats, as they tend to hide their discomfort . Even so, there are fairly clear signs that can indicate something is wrong in their mouth. We'll know their teeth hurt if they show any of the following symptoms :
- He bites everything he finds, especially hard objects, during teething or when he feels discomfort in his gums.
- He has persistent bad breath (halitosis), often associated with tartar, gingivitis, or periodontal disease.
- They have started to lose weight and/or appetite, or they eat more slowly, selecting only soft foods.
- He appears apathetic, sad or irritable and avoids being stroked around his mouth or head.
- He has trouble chewing, chews only on one side, drops food from his mouth, or takes a long time to finish his portion.
- The person has a fever, red or swollen gums, or saliva with traces of blood is visible.
- Drooling continuously, keeping the mouth slightly open, or tilting the head while eating can also indicate [a problem/issue]. severe toothache.
In many cats, the signs are very subtle, and the only noticeable change is that they eat less dry food, ask for more wet food, or become quieter. Therefore, it's highly recommended to check their mouth regularly at home (if they allow it) and to take them for regular veterinary checkups , especially for adult and senior cats.
Which is the treatment?
Depending on the cause of the tooth pain, the treatment will vary. Generally, the veterinarian may recommend pain relievers to alleviate the pain, anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation, and/or antibiotics if there is an associated bacterial infection.
When tartar, gingivitis, or periodontal disease is present, a professional ultrasonic dental cleaning under general anesthesia is usually necessary to remove plaque and calculus without damaging the teeth. During this same procedure, the veterinarian will assess the stability of each tooth and decide if any extractions are necessary.
In cases of tooth resorption, severe fractures, persistent baby teeth, or very painful gingivostomatitis, extraction of the affected teeth may be necessary . Although it may seem drastic, many cats live very well with few teeth or even none at all, provided they are offered a suitable diet, primarily wet or soft-textured food.
When oral tumors or associated systemic diseases (such as viral infections or kidney problems) are suspected, the veterinarian will perform x-rays , blood tests, and other tests to establish a more comprehensive treatment plan that may include surgery, specific medication, or complementary therapies.
As we can see, there are several reasons why a cat might experience tooth pain. Whenever we suspect a toothache, it's best to take our cat to the vet as soon as possible for a thorough examination of the oral cavity and appropriate treatment, thus preventing further complications and improving the cat's well-being.
In addition to treatment, prevention is key: maintaining good oral hygiene, providing quality food, routinely checking the cat's mouth, and attending regular dental checkups helps our feline maintain a healthy mouth for many years and prevents tooth pain from becoming a chronic problem.