Can I cure my cat's gingivitis at home, or does it need a vet?

Antibiotics are not very effective for gingivitis and will not cure it, so I don't reccomend giving them. Gingivitis is usually caused by a dirty mouth and requires a full dental cleaning to clear the problem. Cats can sometimes develop gingivitis for unknown reasons and these cases are extremely difficult to manage. I reccomend bringing Flora to a vet to have her examined. Often times, gingivitis indicates that there may be some severely diseased teeth that need to be pulled. In the meantime, you can try to brush the teeth daily - don't use toothpaste though. I hope that helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jackie. If she has gingivitis or redness along her gum margins, she should go under anesthesia to have her teeth professional cleaned. Red gums indicate an infection in the mouth. This is actually more problematic than tartar accumulating on the teeth. Gingivitis leads to bad breath and a destruction of the attachment of the teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to chronic pain in the mouth and the eventual loss of teeth. As far as at home care, I like Maxiguard Gel as it is easier than brushing a cat's teeth. You want to look for products with the VOHC seal as these are approved for use by veterinary dentists. These products can really make a big difference for Jackie's oral health and her overall quality of life. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Cassie. I think it's a great idea for you to start brushing her teeth, and that can help with the gingivitis. Be sure to use a pet toothpaste, as human ones are toxic for cats. You can get a pet toothbrush and paste at a pet store. I'd brush her teeth three times a week. I hope this helps!

Once your kitty had his dental cleaning , brushing his teeth with enzymatic tooth paste will prevent the build up of tartar and gingivitis. Brushing his teeth while he still has the excessive tartar will not remove it and also hurt the gums, as the gingivitis is painful. You can use water additives, but in my opinion they do not do much for the breath and his teeth. The bad breath is caused by bacteria in the tartar and below the gums. It will go away as soon as the teeth are cleaned.

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.

The medications should have an effect within a week or so but response is variable. Gingivitis can be complicated in cats as it can have an autoimmune component. Special foods can help with the condition and daily tooth brushing with pet toothpaste will help the most if Chibi will allow it. Some cats may eventually need all the teeth removed. Hopefully Chibi’s is not that serious and I hope she responds quickly to treatment. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

From this picture the level of plaque does not justify the gingivitis, as there is not much plaque on Mimi's teeth. So it could be that the nature of gingivitis is viral, or it could be just immuno-mediated. Further testing is required to understand if the cause is a virus. If these test are not available, then symptomatical treatment is advisable. Flagyl is an antibiotics that we commonly use for gastro-intestinal bacteria so perhaps I would consider a different antibiotic with a broader spectrum.