How to Diagnose an Unhealthy Mouth in Cats

Many cat diseases occur due to an unhealthy mouth. Food particles mix with bacteria and saliva to form plaque, which leads to tartar build-up on the teeth. When tartar bonds with saliva, the gums become irritated, eventually leading to infection. Cat diseases like chronic renal failure or diabetes mellitus occur more often in cats with unhealthy mouths.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Be aware of and treat conditions that lead to cat disease, such as retained milk teeth or overcrowded teeth. Regular visits to a veterinarian limit the damage done by plaque.
2. Look for plaque or tartar buildup on teeth. Yellow discoloration or deposits are early stages of plague. Advance plague looks like brown crust.
3. Watch for signs of cat disease like irritability, loss of appetite or difficulty eating. Cats often paw at their mouth or rub it along the ground to relieve discomfort.
4. Pay attention to the cat's breath and saliva. Cat diseases in the mouth trigger bad breath. Drooling may increase and be tinged with blood. Tacky saliva, which sticks to and stretches with the mouth when the cat opens it, also indicates disease.
5. Inspect the gums and teeth for redness, irritation or pockets. Exposed roots, missing teeth, holes in teeth and gums that bleed easily point to a more advanced illness such as periodontal disease.
6. Know the stages of cat disease for the mouth. Early and advanced gingivitis begin with mild plague and slight redness of gums. When periodontal disease develops, the cat looses bone mass that cannot be reversed.