How Do Cats Act When They Have a Bad Tooth?

Imagine a world where your beloved feline would be able to express their pain. Sadly, cats are experts at concealing their pain. Whether they are sick or are experiencing pain in their teeth, gums, or mouth, you cat will never let you know. Hiding their pain is an instinctive behavior that they’ve learned from their ancestors, which can be a huge annoyance for you.

By the time your cat starts showing obvious indicators of oral problems, such as the chattering of teeth or drooling, their dental problems are usually well-advanced. There are certain subtle behavioral indicators and other signs that cats have a bad tooth. Learning more about these signs and getting immediate dental care can help maintain the quality of your cat’s life.

General and Behavioral Indicators of Dental Problems in Cats

Here are some general and behavioral indicators that cats with a bad tooth display.

Bad Breath

Cats with a bad tooth may have a very strong mouth odor that is different from their normal kitty breath. This odor may be caused by various factors, including infection, periodontal disease, cancer, and many other dental disorders that are highly likely to cause pain.

Drooling

If your cat is drooling while eating, this may signal a bad tooth. You especially need to keep an eye to see if there’s blood in their drool. Any time of dental pain, gingivitis, or cervical line lesion can cause drooling.

Loss of Appetite or Difficulty Eating

Is your cat chewing on only one side of its mouth? Is your cat dropping food while eating? Is your furry baby avoiding food altogether? These are signs of dental pain.

Quivering Jaw

If your feline’s jaw is shaking or chattering, it may be an indicator of lesions on their teeth. This condition causes holes in the teeth. Look out for chattering when your cat is eating or during his grooming session. The shooting pain of the tooth root is typically loud enough for you to hear if you’re close enough to your cat.

Rubbing or Pawing at His Face

If a feline is experiencing acute pain, they might try to push the pain out by rubbing or pawing at his face.

Teeth Grinding or Excessive Yawning

Your cat might yawn excessively, grind its teeth, or have difficulty in closing its mouth due to severe dental pain and discomfort.

Head Shaking or Tilting

Although head tilts or shakes are common linked to ear problems, a feline with dental pain may also shake or tilt their head excessively. Remember, a cat usually tilts their head to the side of the mouth where the dental problem is. If you notice this indicator along with other symptoms such as drooling, then your cat definitely has a dental problem.

Reduction in Self-Grooming

A cat that isn’t feeling well stops grooming itself. Oral problems such as gingivitis can make grooming very painful. If you notice your cat isn’t grooming very often, or if its coat appears matted, greasy, or flaky, then you should take your feline to the vet.

Pulling Away

Gingivitis and a few other dental problems can be extremely torturous for a cat. So much so, that even a feline that loves being pet or scratch on the head or chin, will turn its head away or meow aggressively.

General Behavioral Changes

A cat can act pretty aggressively when they have a bad tooth. Their behavior can range from hiding and avoidance to growling and aggressiveness. For instance, your soft-tempered Persian cat might start biting you when you try to touch or rub its face. This aggressive behavior is most likely a reaction to toothache.

Common Dental Problems in Cats

There are various dental conditions and problems that can cause infections, pain, or discomfort. What may seem pretty normal or trivial at first, can turn into a huge problem if left untreated for too long. Here are two of the most common dental problems in cats.

Damaged Teeth

Damaged teeth are those teeth that are either slightly chipped or completely broken. Everything except for minor chips need to be evaluated properly. If the gum or root is exposed, it should instantly be treated as it is prone to an abscess that can cause severe pain. A cat might also break their teeth due a fall or an accident, which causes their chin to bear the impact. This can also be quite painful for your feline. Damaged teeth might also occur as a result of tooth enamel that is wearing away, causing the sensitive part of the tooth to become exposed.

Periodontitis

This condition occurs as a result of tartar build-up that causes gum recession. Periodontitis can lead to infection as it creates space between the gum and the tooth, making way for bacteria to enter.

How to Prevent Dental Problems in Cats

Here’s how you can prevent your cat from having a bad tooth.

Feed Good Quality Food

Feeding your cat specifically formulated dry cat food is a great way to maintain their dental health since they exercise the teeth and gums. You can also easily find dry cat food that is specially made for your cat’s oral health. Additionally, dry kibble is also shaped to help keep your cat’s teeth clean.

Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Routine

Form a good dental and oral care routine for your cat to prevent any problems from occurring. Brushing and rubbing your cat’s teeth will give you the chance to assess their dental health and see any problems in advance. Also, visiting the vet from time to time is very important to ensure your cat’s dental health.

The Bottom Line

Cats that have a bad tooth display certain signs that indicate dental problems. Make sure to keep an eye on your cat if it has been behaving oddly recently. If you don’t know what’s going on with your feline, then the best option is to take it to the vet.