Little kittens lose their milk teeth in exactly the same way as their human counterparts. But if your kitty is an adult and starts losing her teeth, beware. It could be a sign of an unpleasant disease.
A common cause of dental disease in cats is gingivitis. If not treated in time, it can lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis is caused by plaque build-up in the oral cavity and can progress to periodontitis. This eventually destroys the tissues that hold the teeth in place and the cat will gradually lose its teeth.
Getting rid of the excess plaque is not such a big problem. It already happens the moment your cat consumes the kibble, which is naturally cleaned by this action. If your cat allows you to, you can clean her teeth. However, be sure not to use a human toothbrush for this, but reach for a special animal toothbrush that has two heads and thus cleans the front and back of the tooth at the same time.
If you're worried that your furry friend is suffering from the above-mentioned problems (red gums, blood in the saliva, loss of appetite or an unpleasant smell), don't delay and go to the vet. Your doctor will examine your cat, take x-rays if necessary, and find out if she has any health problems or not. In addition, when examining her muzzle, the doctor will see if any of her teeth are broken or if she is suffering from tartar.
As in many other cases, prevention is essential. Felines in the wild have both cleaner and healthier teeth. This is because their diet is tailored differently. The food contains many more elements and also hard bits that remove food debris and essentially clean the tooth. Therefore, make sure to have a balanced diet and don't settle for cheap, inferior kibble.
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