Gum disease in dogs and cats: signs, dental treatment and home care

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is infection and inflammation in the tissues that surround and support a pet's teeth.

Vets call these supporting tissues the periodontium, which is why the condition is also known as periodontal disease. [1]

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, while periodontitis affects the deeper tissues that support the teeth.

Untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, so the two terms describe inflammation at different depths around a tooth. [1]

Untreated dental disease can cause ongoing pain and infection, making it an important animal-welfare issue.

It can also cause inflammation and other health problems, reducing a pet's quality of life. [2]

Periodontal disease starts when bacterial plaque builds up on the teeth and triggers inflammation.

The pet's body reacts to that bacterial build-up, contributing to the inflammation around the teeth. [1]

As periodontitis progresses below the gumline, inflammation can damage the tissues and bone that hold each tooth in place.

This damage occurs around the tooth root, where losing bone and soft-tissue support can leave the tooth less securely anchored. [1]

Signs can include bad breath, plaque or tartar, red, swollen or bleeding gums, receding gums, loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.

A veterinary examination may also find deeper pockets around the teeth or loss of the bone that supports them. [1]

Dental pain can be hard to spot because dogs and cats often mask oral discomfort.

This makes dental pain difficult for both pet owners and veterinary professionals to recognise from outward signs alone. [3]

Changes in eating habits, lethargy or behaviour can be signs of untreated dental pain.

Other indirect clues can include bad breath, teeth chattering, weight loss or a pet becoming less willing to interact with people. [3]

Bad breath, red, swollen or bleeding gums, loose teeth or visible plaque and tartar are good reasons to ask a vet for a dental check.

Receding gums or tooth loss can also be signs of periodontal disease. [1]

Anaesthesia allows the veterinary team to carry out a complete and thorough examination of your pet's mouth.

It makes a full oral evaluation possible, rather than limiting the team to an incomplete examination.

General anaesthesia also allows the veterinary team to control and protect the airway during examination and treatment. [4]

A periodontal probe helps the vet assess how much support the teeth have lost.

Dental X-rays are used alongside probing to build a fuller picture of the damage around the teeth. [1]

Dental X-rays are needed to assess the full extent of periodontal disease.

They can reveal disease that is not otherwise apparent and help the veterinary team avoid overlooking problems or choosing unsuitable treatment. [1]

Periodontal disease is staged most accurately while a pet is under anaesthesia.

Vets use dental X-rays and periodontal probing as part of that assessment. [5]

Visible tartar alone does not show the full extent of periodontal disease, because an accurate diagnosis needs more than the visible tooth surfaces.

A full assessment under general anaesthesia also lets the veterinary team address pain, protect the airway and treat any disease appropriately. [9]

Veterinary management depends on how much support has been lost around the affected teeth.

The severity of this attachment loss is therefore a key part of deciding how an affected tooth is managed. [1]

Professional cleaning removes bacterial plaque from the tooth surfaces.

When disease is still limited to gingivitis, removing plaque can reverse the inflammation and allow the gums to return to a healthy state. [1]

A very loose tooth, or one that has lost much of its support, may need to be removed if it has a poor chance of recovery.

Increased movement and attachment loss can give a tooth a guarded or poor outlook, which is why extraction is often considered the best treatment in that situation. [1]

Anaesthesia-free cleaning may make the visible tooth surfaces look cleaner, but it does not treat periodontal disease below the gumline.

A better-looking tooth crown should therefore not be mistaken for an improvement in periodontal health.

It can also damage tooth enamel, gums or the tongue and allow water used during scaling to enter the airway. Pain or anxiety can lead to bites to the person carrying out the cleaning. [1]

Yes. Dogs and cats can function without teeth and can still have an excellent quality of life.

Removing a diseased tooth is a definitive treatment for that tooth and may improve a pet's quality of life. [1]

Brushing your pet's teeth every day, or at least every other day, appears to be the most effective home method for improving and maintaining gum health.

Consistency matters: the guidance describes brushing as a daily or alternate-day routine, rather than something done only occasionally. [1]

Brushing can remove soft plaque, but hardened tartar needs professional scaling and polishing.

Once plaque has hardened into tartar (calculus), brushing alone cannot remove it. [1]

Very hard items such as bones and hooves can crack teeth.

The concern is tooth fracture: their hardness makes these items capable of damaging a tooth. [1]

Ordinary dry kibble does not necessarily reduce plaque and tartar better than canned food.

The common idea that kibble cleans teeth simply through the action of chewing does not always hold true. [1]

For dental diets and treats, the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal shows that a product has met preset standards for reducing plaque or tartar.

Many products make dental-health claims, but VOHC acceptance helps owners and vets identify those that have actually met these standards. [6]

Plaque begins building up again by the next day after cleaning.

It forms continuously on tooth surfaces and between teeth. Daily brushing and professional cleaning can remove it, but a new layer still begins to develop. [1]

For dogs, plaque control can combine home dental care with regular professional periodontal care.

Home care can include toothbrushing, oral products, specific diets and chew toys. In some cases, periodontal surgery may also be needed to slow the disease's progression. [7]

Home dental care helps control plaque, but it does not replace anaesthetised examinations, dental X-rays or treatment when they are needed.

Even daily brushing does not remove the need for professional assessment and care, just as home care does not replace dental visits for people. [8]