Dental Disease in Pets: It’s More Than Bad Breath
Bad breath is easy to joke about, especially when your dog wants to breathe directly into your face. But persistent bad breath can also be one of the first signs of dental disease in pets, and problems inside the mouth can be much more serious than an unpleasant smell.
Dental disease can cause painful gums, loose or damaged teeth, infection, and difficulty eating. The tricky part is that dogs and cats don’t always make it obvious when their mouths hurt. That’s why paying attention to your pet’s teeth and gums, getting regular veterinary exams, and understanding what happens during a professional dental cleaning are all important parts of keeping them healthy.
What Is Dental Disease in Pets?
Plaque is a film containing bacteria that forms on the teeth. If it isn’t removed, plaque can harden into tartar, and bacteria and inflammation can begin affecting the gums and structures supporting the teeth.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums and can be an early stage of the problem. As periodontal disease progresses, the tissues and bone supporting the teeth can become damaged. Eventually, teeth may loosen or need to be removed.
And some dental problems aren’t visible just by looking inside your pet’s mouth. A significant portion of each tooth is below the gumline, which is one reason dental X-rays can be so important.
Bad Breath Isn’t the Only Sign
Bad breath is probably the dental problem owners notice most often, but there are other things to watch for. Signs of dental disease in pets can include:
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Yellow or brown buildup on the teeth
- Drooling more than usual
- Dropping food while eating
- Chewing on only one side of the mouth
- Difficulty eating or reluctance to eat
- Loose or missing teeth
- Facial swelling
- Blood on toys or around the mouth
- Changes in behavior
Cats can be especially good at hiding discomfort. A cat with dental pain may continue eating even when their mouth hurts, or the changes may be subtle enough that they’re easy to miss. If something about the way your pet eats, chews, or uses their mouth changes, it’s worth mentioning to your veterinarian.
Why Dental Disease Can Be Painful Even When Your Pet Seems Fine
Animals don’t necessarily show pain the way we expect them to. A dog with a painful tooth may still get excited for dinner. A cat may continue eating despite inflammation in their mouth. Pets can adjust how they chew or simply live with discomfort without giving us an obvious sign that something hurts. That doesn’t mean they’re not in pain.
Advanced periodontal disease can damage the tissues and bone that hold teeth in place. Pets can also develop abscesses and other painful dental problems. Sometimes owners don’t realize how uncomfortable their pet was until the dental problem has been treated and they notice a change afterward.
What Happens During a Veterinary Dental Cleaning?
A professional veterinary dental procedure is much more than scraping visible tartar from the teeth. Your veterinary team will determine what your individual pet needs, but a comprehensive dental procedure can include an oral examination, dental X-rays, cleaning above and below the gumline, probing around the teeth, polishing, and treating or extracting diseased teeth when necessary.
Your veterinarian may also recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork or other testing based on your pet’s age, health, and medical history. And this brings us to one of the biggest questions people have about veterinary dentistry.
Why Does My Pet Need Anesthesia for a Dental Cleaning?
It can be tempting to think that an awake dental cleaning sounds easier or safer. The problem is that making the visible part of a tooth look clean isn’t the same thing as treating dental disease in pets. A veterinarian needs to be able to examine the entire mouth, take dental X-rays, probe around the teeth, and clean beneath the gumline. Your pet also needs to remain still while instruments are being used inside the mouth.
General anesthesia allows the veterinary team to do that safely and thoroughly while protecting the pet from pain, stress, and movement during the procedure. AAHA does not recommend anesthesia-free dental cleanings because they cannot adequately examine, diagnose, and treat disease below the gumline. Removing visible tartar from an awake pet may make the teeth look better without addressing the disease underneath.
If anesthesia worries you, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s individual risk and the precautions they use before, during, and after the procedure.
Why Dental X-Rays Matter
Your veterinarian can learn quite a bit by looking inside your pet’s mouth, but they can’t see what’s happening beneath the gums just by looking at the visible part of a tooth. Dental X-rays allow veterinarians to evaluate the roots of the teeth and surrounding bone and identify problems that might otherwise be missed.
AAHA’s dental guidelines recommend intraoral radiography as part of a comprehensive dental evaluation. This is also why a pet can have teeth that don’t look particularly bad to us but still have significant dental problems.
Cats Have Some Dental Problems of Their Own
Dogs and cats can both develop gingivitis and periodontal disease, but cats can also develop tooth resorption. With tooth resorption, the structure of a tooth begins to break down. Tooth resorption, gingivitis, and periodontitis are among the most common dental diseases affecting cats.
These conditions can be painful, and dental X-rays may be needed to fully evaluate affected teeth. So even if your cat never chews bones, plays tug-of-war, or has noticeably dirty teeth, their mouth still deserves attention during veterinary visits.
Can You Prevent Dental Disease in Pets at Home?
Home dental care can make a real difference, particularly when it becomes part of your pet’s regular routine. Daily tooth brushing is one of the most effective ways to reduce plaque accumulation. Use toothpaste made specifically for pets rather than human toothpaste.
If brushing your pet’s teeth sounds about as realistic as asking your cat to help with your taxes, talk to your veterinarian about other options. Dental diets, appropriate dental chews, and other oral-care products may help. AAHA recommends looking for products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council when choosing dental treats and chews.
Home care doesn’t replace veterinary dental exams or professional treatment when it’s needed, but it can be an important part of preventing or slowing dental problems.
Start Before There Is a Problem
It’s much easier to get a puppy or kitten accustomed to having their mouth handled than to introduce tooth brushing for the first time when they’re 12 and deeply suspicious of your motives.
Start slowly. Let them get comfortable with you touching their face and lifting their lips. Introduce a pet toothbrush and toothpaste gradually, and keep sessions short.
If your adult pet has never had their teeth brushed, you can still talk to your veterinarian about starting an at-home routine. Just don’t start aggressively brushing a mouth that may already be painful. If you see red gums, broken teeth, heavy tartar, bleeding, swelling, or other concerning changes, have your veterinarian examine the mouth first.
Don’t Wait for Your Pet to Stop Eating
One of the biggest misconceptions about dental disease in pets is that you’ll know something is seriously wrong because your pet will stop eating. Some will. Others won’t.
By the time a pet is refusing food because of dental pain, the problem may already be significant. Take a look at your pet’s mouth occasionally if they’ll safely allow it. Pay attention to changes in their breath, gums, teeth, eating habits, and behavior. And have their mouth checked as part of their regular veterinary care.
Your pet doesn’t need a perfect Hollywood smile. They do need a mouth that doesn’t hurt.
Continue Learning
Healthy pets need more than one kind of preventive care. Here are a few more Pawprints & Purpose articles that can help you stay ahead of common health problems:
Pet Insurance: What Are You Actually Paying For?
The American Animal Hospital Association has a detailed guide to dental disease in dogs and cats, including warning signs, professional dental cleanings, anesthesia, dental X-rays, and home dental care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bad breath normal for dogs and cats?
Occasional odors can happen, but persistent bad breath can be a sign of dental disease or another health problem. If your pet’s breath has become noticeably unpleasant, ask your veterinarian to check their mouth.
How can I tell if my pet has dental pain?
Possible signs include difficulty eating, dropping food, chewing on one side, drooling, red or bleeding gums, facial swelling, or behavioral changes. Some pets show few obvious signs even when dental disease is painful.
Why does my pet need anesthesia for a dental cleaning?
Anesthesia allows the veterinary team to safely examine the entire mouth, take dental X-rays, clean above and below the gumline, probe around teeth, and treat dental problems without causing the pet pain or requiring them to remain awake and perfectly still.
Can I brush my dog’s or cat’s teeth with human toothpaste?
No. Use toothpaste made specifically for pets. AAHA advises against human toothpaste and recommends pet-specific dental products.
Does brushing my pet’s teeth mean they won’t need professional dental cleanings?
Not necessarily. Home dental care can reduce plaque buildup, but your veterinarian still needs to examine your pet’s mouth and determine when professional dental care is necessary.