Dark line on cat's gums: Is it gingivitis? How to improve gum health?

What you're describing does sound like Merri has some dental disease. The red line along her gums is likely inflammation that is the result of bacteria under the gumline. I commend you for brushing her teeth once or twice weekly. That is more than most cat owner are able or willing to do. I would recommend trying to find other dental health products that may help decrease her dental disease. There are a number of products that the Veterinary Oral Health Council has tested and approved for cats to help prevent and treat dental disease. I am attaching a link to their approved products below. http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Cats.pdf You might consider trying a water additive like Health Mouth and finding a dental treat that Merri likes in addition to continuing your regular brushing. If there is bleeding when you brush or Merri seems painful, then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her mouth. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

The pictures are a little blurry. With what I see in the pictures her gums look normal with a small amount of gingivitis. I would recommend brushing her teeth with a cat approved toothpaste daily to help her gums. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is likely staining of the tooth from her food. There is an indentation in the tooth normally in that area that can easily collect foostuffs and staining. I wouldn't be too concerned about it and just recommend brushing his teeth daily to help prevent further staining and periodontal disease. If you notice a foul odor and/or Lio has difficulty chewing, then its best to have him examined by your vet. Also keep in mind that most cats by the age of 3 should have their teeth cleaned (Dental prophylaxis) at the vet to prevent periodontal disease and lead to excellent oral hygiene. Weekly dental maintenance can also be done through the use of greenies dental treats, dental food (i.e. Hill's T/D bites), and other over the counter products.

That looks like pretty painful gingivitis. There also may be some lesions on the neck of the canine tooth (FORL). Your vet will inspect the whole mouth and may suggest a tooth cleaning under anesthesia where the teeth are also cleaned underneath the gingiva. Unfortunately the teeth can look very clean, but underneath the gingiva bacteria congregate and cause tooth decay, inflammation, and, in serious cases, heart and kidney disease, This is not an emergency, but should be addressed soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tora. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He will need to be anesthetized to have his mouth properly evaluated. The gingivitis present along his gumline is significant and there is a chance that tooth would need to be extracted. This can only be determined under anesthesia. His mouth is likely painful which could be why he bit you. Brushing is great once the mouth is cleaned and the gumline is healthy again. I hope this information helps!

What I see in the picture is a change in color where the gums meet the hair line. This is something I see just as cats age. Sometimes in orange cats the skin will become black in pigmentation. Other times you will see a blue color. I would just continue to monitor it for now. If it gets bigger to you can take Schmidt to the vet for a quick check but I do not think it was related to the dental

Yes, this can be considered a normal pigment variation in cats. There are some color patterns, such as the orange tabby, that can have small black spots along their lips, eyelids, and nose. These are not harmful and are termed lentigo simplex.