Do Cats Get Cavities? A Comprehensive Guide to Feline Dental Health, From Tooth Resorption to Stomatitis
Do Cats Get Cavities? A Comprehensive Guide to Feline Dental Health, From Tooth Resorption to Stomatitis
One sunny morning, while brushing my teeth and looking in the mirror, I noticed a cavity! Oh, I didn't realize I could still get cavities at 18! Just then, my little cat meowed at me: "Hey, human, stop staring and get to work! We're late!" Looking at his pearly white fangs, I wondered if my adorable cat had cavities too. Turns out, the answer is a bit surprising!
I. Cats Don't Get Cavities?
We usually call "cavities" or "tooth decay" "dental caries" in a more scientific way. The main reason for dental caries is the consumption of starch-rich foods. Food residue is broken down into glucose in the mouth by amylase in saliva. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugar into acidic substances, which dissolve enamel and erode dentin and other tissues. Cats don't have cavities because they're not cute, but for these reasons:
1. Cats' Tooth Structure
Cats' molars don't have flat surfaces, lacking a breeding ground for bacteria. As omnivores, humans need these flat molars to chew food. These flat surfaces have many pits and crevices that are difficult to clean, leading to the accumulation of debris and causing cavities, among other issues. Cats' canines have a "crack" on the surface called a "bleeding groove." This groove allows blood from prey to drain, preventing it from sticking to their teeth. Because cats don't have flat surfaces on their molars, they don't grind food. They either swallow their food whole or just tear larger pieces into smaller ones. As a result, there's not much food residue left in their mouths.
2. Cats' Dietary Habits
The fact that cats don't get cavities is largely due to their being strict carnivores. Their diet makes their teeth and oral environment less susceptible to cavities. Cat food has a low carbohydrate content. Cats can't taste sweetness and don't prefer sugar. Therefore, when feeding dry food, try to choose cat food with a high meat content and a low carbohydrate ratio.
3. Cats' Saliva
Cats' saliva lacks amylase, the enzyme that can metabolize starch. Therefore, they can't break down starch into sugar and produce acidic substances. Cats' mouths are slightly alkaline, making it less likely to erode enamel.
II. Feline Tooth Resorption: A Different Kind of Tooth Loss
While cats don't get cavities, dental and oral diseases are common. The disease most similar to cavities in humans is "tooth resorption."
1. What is Tooth Resorption?
Tooth resorption, as the name suggests, involves the absorption of teeth. The full name for this condition is feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs). It usually occurs at the junction of the gums and teeth. The pathogenesis is completely different from cavities. Tooth resorption occurs because osteoclasts erode the teeth, causing tooth loss. Cavities are usually caused by acidic substances eroding the teeth, causing tooth loss.
2. Symptoms of Tooth Resorption
Cats with FORLs often have bad breath, drooling, red gums, missing crowns, and difficulty eating. In the initial stages, owners often notice that their cats eat more slowly, have decreased appetites, or even have gum bleeding. However, at this stage, FORLs only occur at the root of the tooth, and the tooth still looks intact. Therefore, only X-ray diagnosis can be used.
[Picture: Cat with tooth resorption]
Clinically, it's easier to identify late-stage lesions when teeth have partially or fully fallen out. But at this point, it's only the crown that has fallen off, while the roots are still embedded in the alveolar bone. The remaining root irritates the gums, causing inflammation and pain, leading to difficulty eating and loss of appetite. The incidence of tooth resorption in cats is as high as 28.5–67.0%, so it's recommended to have X-ray examinations for cats over 4 years old.
3. Causes of Tooth Resorption
The true cause of FORLs is not yet clear. Possible causes include:
High vitamin D content in diet
Calcium imbalance
Hypoparathyroidism
Poor oral hygiene and inflammation
Genetic factors
4. Treating Tooth Resorption
The only treatment for tooth resorption currently is extraction. After extraction, antibiotics and painkillers can be prescribed. During recovery, cats can be fed meat-based baby food. According to overseas studies, filling FORLs has little effect, and teeth will continue to be eroded by osteoclasts.
III. Other Common Feline Dental Diseases
Besides tooth resorption, there are many other oral diseases that can cause pain and difficulty eating in cats. Check out the symptoms below to identify them early.
1. Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the tissues around the teeth caused by pathogenic microorganisms, leading to swelling, inflammation, atrophy, and necrosis. Typical symptoms include: bad breath, drooling, gum bleeding or ulcers, dental calculus, gum recession, and loss of appetite. Main causes include: lack of brushing, leading to food residue in the mouth and bacterial growth; biting on hard or sharp objects, scratching the gums, causing inflammation; and weak immunity.
[Picture: Severe periodontitis, Picture: Mild periodontitis]
2. Feline Stomatitis
Stomatitis refers to widespread inflammation in the mouth. Symptoms include: congestion and redness of oral mucosa, even ulceration, bad breath, drooling, unwillingness to eat, lethargy, and weight loss. Cause: Unknown. Speculated causes include viral infection, immune system problems, and periodontal disease. Confirmation tests: feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus testing; calicivirus testing; comprehensive oral examination; biopsy of infected tissues, etc. Solutions: Immunosuppressants and antibiotics can only suppress the symptoms temporarily; many cats can experience relief after tooth extraction.
IV. How to Protect Your Cat's Dental Health?
Oral hygiene is a common topic for both humans and cats. The simplest and most effective way to prevent dental problems is to brush your cat's teeth daily! Brush! Brush! Brush!!! Otherwise, you'll have to spend money on the vet! Sigh, never mind, I need to go back to work!
Conclusion:
While cats don't get cavities, dental diseases are common and can significantly affect their health and quality of life. Understanding cats' tooth structure, dietary habits, and common dental diseases, and providing regular dental care can help keep cats' mouths healthy and allow them to enjoy a happier life.
One sunny morning, while brushing my teeth and looking in the mirror, I noticed a cavity! Oh, I didn't realize I could still get cavities at 18! Just then, my little cat meowed at me: "Hey, human, stop staring and get to work! We're late!" Looking at his pearly white fangs, I wondered if my adorable cat had cavities too. Turns out, the answer is a bit surprising!
I. Cats Don't Get Cavities?
We usually call "cavities" or "tooth decay" "dental caries" in a more scientific way. The main reason for dental caries is the consumption of starch-rich foods. Food residue is broken down into glucose in the mouth by amylase in saliva. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugar into acidic substances, which dissolve enamel and erode dentin and other tissues. Cats don't have cavities because they're not cute, but for these reasons:
1. Cats' Tooth Structure
Cats' molars don't have flat surfaces, lacking a breeding ground for bacteria. As omnivores, humans need these flat molars to chew food. These flat surfaces have many pits and crevices that are difficult to clean, leading to the accumulation of debris and causing cavities, among other issues. Cats' canines have a "crack" on the surface called a "bleeding groove." This groove allows blood from prey to drain, preventing it from sticking to their teeth. Because cats don't have flat surfaces on their molars, they don't grind food. They either swallow their food whole or just tear larger pieces into smaller ones. As a result, there's not much food residue left in their mouths.
2. Cats' Dietary Habits
The fact that cats don't get cavities is largely due to their being strict carnivores. Their diet makes their teeth and oral environment less susceptible to cavities. Cat food has a low carbohydrate content. Cats can't taste sweetness and don't prefer sugar. Therefore, when feeding dry food, try to choose cat food with a high meat content and a low carbohydrate ratio.
3. Cats' Saliva
Cats' saliva lacks amylase, the enzyme that can metabolize starch. Therefore, they can't break down starch into sugar and produce acidic substances. Cats' mouths are slightly alkaline, making it less likely to erode enamel.
II. Feline Tooth Resorption: A Different Kind of Tooth Loss
While cats don't get cavities, dental and oral diseases are common. The disease most similar to cavities in humans is "tooth resorption."
1. What is Tooth Resorption?
Tooth resorption, as the name suggests, involves the absorption of teeth. The full name for this condition is feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs). It usually occurs at the junction of the gums and teeth. The pathogenesis is completely different from cavities. Tooth resorption occurs because osteoclasts erode the teeth, causing tooth loss. Cavities are usually caused by acidic substances eroding the teeth, causing tooth loss.
2. Symptoms of Tooth Resorption
Cats with FORLs often have bad breath, drooling, red gums, missing crowns, and difficulty eating. In the initial stages, owners often notice that their cats eat more slowly, have decreased appetites, or even have gum bleeding. However, at this stage, FORLs only occur at the root of the tooth, and the tooth still looks intact. Therefore, only X-ray diagnosis can be used.
[Picture: Cat with tooth resorption]
Clinically, it's easier to identify late-stage lesions when teeth have partially or fully fallen out. But at this point, it's only the crown that has fallen off, while the roots are still embedded in the alveolar bone. The remaining root irritates the gums, causing inflammation and pain, leading to difficulty eating and loss of appetite. The incidence of tooth resorption in cats is as high as 28.5–67.0%, so it's recommended to have X-ray examinations for cats over 4 years old.
3. Causes of Tooth Resorption
The true cause of FORLs is not yet clear. Possible causes include:
High vitamin D content in diet
Calcium imbalance
Hypoparathyroidism
Poor oral hygiene and inflammation
Genetic factors
4. Treating Tooth Resorption
The only treatment for tooth resorption currently is extraction. After extraction, antibiotics and painkillers can be prescribed. During recovery, cats can be fed meat-based baby food. According to overseas studies, filling FORLs has little effect, and teeth will continue to be eroded by osteoclasts.
III. Other Common Feline Dental Diseases
Besides tooth resorption, there are many other oral diseases that can cause pain and difficulty eating in cats. Check out the symptoms below to identify them early.
1. Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the tissues around the teeth caused by pathogenic microorganisms, leading to swelling, inflammation, atrophy, and necrosis. Typical symptoms include: bad breath, drooling, gum bleeding or ulcers, dental calculus, gum recession, and loss of appetite. Main causes include: lack of brushing, leading to food residue in the mouth and bacterial growth; biting on hard or sharp objects, scratching the gums, causing inflammation; and weak immunity.
[Picture: Severe periodontitis, Picture: Mild periodontitis]
2. Feline Stomatitis
Stomatitis refers to widespread inflammation in the mouth. Symptoms include: congestion and redness of oral mucosa, even ulceration, bad breath, drooling, unwillingness to eat, lethargy, and weight loss. Cause: Unknown. Speculated causes include viral infection, immune system problems, and periodontal disease. Confirmation tests: feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus testing; calicivirus testing; comprehensive oral examination; biopsy of infected tissues, etc. Solutions: Immunosuppressants and antibiotics can only suppress the symptoms temporarily; many cats can experience relief after tooth extraction.
IV. How to Protect Your Cat's Dental Health?
Oral hygiene is a common topic for both humans and cats. The simplest and most effective way to prevent dental problems is to brush your cat's teeth daily! Brush! Brush! Brush!!! Otherwise, you'll have to spend money on the vet! Sigh, never mind, I need to go back to work!
Conclusion:
While cats don't get cavities, dental diseases are common and can significantly affect their health and quality of life. Understanding cats' tooth structure, dietary habits, and common dental diseases, and providing regular dental care can help keep cats' mouths healthy and allow them to enjoy a happier life.
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