What's on my cat's teeth? Could it be tartar or a painful gum issue?

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.

This looks like quite a bit of tartar and calculus buildup. You will likely be more successful at preventing significant dental disease by having a professional dental cleaning done. Once all the calculus and tartar built up are removed it'll be easier to maintain a clean mouth.

That sounds and looks like like potential gum disease and tartar/plaque build up on the teeth. Often when it's to this point, a dental cleaning is needed to remove the build up and make sure the teeth are healthy. I would have Ghost examined by your vet and get him scheduled for a dental.

Hello. Some cats can have pretty severe dental disease & this can result in a very painful mouth. Any veterinarian can examine Moto for the degree of tartar & plaque on the teeth, & the presence of gum disease called periodontitis. Some cats can also develop very severe lesions on the gums & tissues at the back of the throat. This we call stomatitis. Moto might benefit from a professional cleaning, the use of antibiotics, the judicial use of steroids & even the removal of some teeth. Your veterinarian can determine what might be best for him & how best to help him. I hope you can have him seen soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately brushing will not resolve the problem as there is quite severe tartar accumulation and gingivitis. Descale procedure would be ideally needed. It may be possible that this tooth needs to be extracted as possibly affected by FORL (https://www.petcoach.co/article/tooth-resorption-in-cats-feline-oral-resorptive-lesions-for/).

It may be a resorptive lesion on the tooth. This is an indicator of dental disease. They can be painful, so a visit to your veterinarian would be recommended. Tinsel may need a complete dental cleaning. Given current events, you may need to drop him off at the clinic and wait for your veterinarian to call you to discuss exam findings and treatment options. https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/tooth-resorption/

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!