Why is my cat missing a fang?

Every kitten goes through a teething process in their first year of life. Once your cat is fully grown, though, their teeth should stay firmly in their mouths.

If you discover that your adult cat has lost a tooth, it should immediately raise a red flag in your mind. Here’s what you should do about it.

When should cats lose their teeth?

Cat owners must distinguish between tooth loss that’s normal and when it’s cause for concern. Kittens go through a teething process that’s similar to human babies—the only difference being that kittens experience teething in a much shorter time span. At two to four weeks old, kittens will begin growing their set of milk teeth. They begin losing milk teeth around the four-month mark and should have all their adult teeth by nine months.

Owners should closely monitor the teething process in case complications arise. Gum inflammation, discomfort and even gingivitis are normal parts of the process and should clear up once teething is complete. However, owners should take note if milk teeth haven’t erupted by 10 weeks of age or if adult teeth are still missing after nine months.

Of course, oral disease can still occur in kittens if the teething process doesn’t go according to plan. Your kitty might have a retained deciduous tooth, which occurs when a milk tooth stays attached to the gum line. As a result, adult teeth are forced to crowd around it. Retained deciduous teeth are uncommon, and oral disease is much more likely to crop up among older cats.

Potential causes for lost teeth

Adult cats aren’t supposed to lose their teeth. Once the teething process is complete, your kitty will have the same set of pearly whites for the rest of their life. If your adult cat has lost a tooth, the cause is most likely due to an injury or gum disease. A vet can provide a proper diagnosis so you can move forward with treatment.

Adult cats may lose teeth if they’ve sustained an injury to the head. Injuries can occur from running into a hard object or getting into a scuffle with their fellow household pets. Briefly examine your cat right after traumatic incidents to see if they’ve been hurt. If they lose a tooth in the coming days, that scuffle was likely the cause.

Cats who are six years or older are most at risk for developing oral and gum disease. Periodontal disease occurs when plaque collects along the gum line and hardens into tartar. This is a yellowish-white substance that can’t be removed with everyday brushing. In severe cases, the tartar can completely separate the tooth from the gums due to damage and cause it to fall out. Periodontal disease takes a long time to develop and is the result of poor dental hygiene.

Missing teeth don’t always fall out, either. Sometimes, they disappear back into the gum line. Tooth resorption occurs when the dentin inside one or more teeth deteriorates beyond repair. The cat’s gums naturally begin to reabsorb the damaged teeth to prevent infection. With a partial resorption, you’ll still be able to see the point of the tooth above their gum line. In other cases, the tooth will completely disappear from sight. Tooth resorption can be painful for cats, so it’s important to keep an eye on and treat immediately.

Schedule a vet appointment right away

No matter the cause, the best thing owners can do when an adult cat loses a tooth is call the vet. There’s no good reason for a cat’s teeth to fall out once they’ve grown out of the teething phase. Take a quick look at your cat’s teeth every once in a while to make sure they’re in good shape and notify the vet if you detect any changes.

Unless you find the tooth yourself, you might not notice that your cat lost a tooth right away because cats excel at masking their discomfort. However, cats suffering from oral disease usually exhibit a change in behavior. They might refuse to eat or become slack-jawed if they’re dealing with a painful infection. Recognizing symptoms is the first step in getting your cat the help they need.

Treatment for tooth loss

After visiting the vet, you’ll receive instructions for at-home care while your kitty is on the mend. Vets often recommend a wet food diet that’s easy on swollen gums, especially if the cat is recovering from a partial tooth extraction. They’ll also have you closely monitor the healing process and report back with any concerns you may have. Once your cat has fully recovered, implement a daily diet of dry food and regular brushing to prevent future tooth loss.

While lost teeth in cats is far from normal, remember that your furry friend is going to be just fine. Seeking a vet the second you notice something’s amiss is key to minimizing your kitty’s discomfort and preventing the loss of additional teeth.

Friday, 07 February 2020 Written by Melissa Guillory, DVM

Cats start out with 30 adult teeth. Ideally, they should keep all 30 teeth throughout their life. Unfortunately, genetics and a lack of willingness for many cats to comply with daily oral home care lead to a need for tooth extraction. 

What Leads to Cat Tooth Loss? 

Dental disease is one of the most common, if not the most common, pathologies that is seen in the domestic cat (Felis catus). A commonly quoted statistic is that 80% of cats and dogs will have some form of dental disease by age 3. This is likely an underestimation. Without daily oral home care and routine professional cleanings, dental disease will develop and often lead to the need to have teeth extracted if not treated early in the course of the disease.

Most cats will lose one or more teeth during their lifespan due to periodontal disease or tooth resorption. Gingivostomatitis may also be present. This is an oral condition in which the immune system has an overzealous response to plaque on the teeth leading to severe and debilitating oral pain. Treatment for gingivostomatitis is either partial or full mouth extractions. Extraction therapy is generally successful. Cats are more likely to eat consistently after painful teeth are removed and the associated inflammation has decreased or resolved.

How Does a Toothless Cat Eat? 

If your cat has lost or is losing teeth, there is no need to panic, they can still live very happy lives. Many felines can eat and manage very well without teeth. Cat teeth are pointed and are used more for grabbing and shearing rather than chewing or grinding purposes. The cat tongue, which is covered with many rough “Velcro” like papilla, helps propel food (including prey) to the back of the oral cavity before it is then swallowed. 

When teeth are in pain due to dental disease, the affected teeth are rarely used for eating. If you or I have an aching tooth, then we will likely avoid using that area of the mouth for chewing. This is the same in cats that are experiencing tooth pain. They will use their tongue to move food into the oral cavity without chewing their food. 

What Should You Feed a Cat with Few or No Teeth

Canned food is generally recommended for a cat with no teeth. However, some cats will insist on continuing to eat kibble despite being edentulous (having no teeth). They will use their tongue as a shovel for ingestion. For some cats, kibble is a more comfortable texture than canned food to prehend with their tongue. Alternatively, a little kibble can be mixed with canned food to create a chunkier consistency that makes it easier for some felines to ingest. The shape and texture preference will vary from cat to cat.

A Toothless Cat Can Still Live a Happy Life! 

Regardless, if your feline friend needs extractions due to gingivostomatitis or severe periodontal disease, they will be MUCH happier and eat more comfortably once infected, painful teeth are removed. At Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery, we can help your furry friend live her best life by treating any dental disease that may be present and by creating a preventative plan to keep her healthy and happy. Schedule an appointment at our Loveland or Colorado Springs offices today! 

For humans, good oral health is essential to living a long, happy life – and the same is true for our feline friends. One sign that all is not well in your kitty’s mouth is tooth loss, though it’s not always easy to tell when your cat is losing teeth, since most of us probably don’t make a habit of pulling back kitty’s pretty pink lips to examine her fangs.

It’s important to pay attention, though, because poor oral hygiene can lead to other more serious health problems including heart disease – and cats are excellent at hiding their pain. If you happen to notice your cat is losing teeth, drooling more, or experiencing discomfort while eating, figuring out the reason why is essential to solving the problem and getting your kitty’s oral health back on track.

Is a Cat Losing Teeth Ever Normal?

Much like young humans, kittens have baby teeth – or milk teeth – that begin to emerge at about three weeks old. These sharp, translucent teeth are not permanent – in fact, the kitten will begin losing them three to four months later. At this stage in a cat’s life, tooth loss is absolutely normal and expected. By the time the kitten is eight or nine months old, she will have all 30 of her adult teeth, which ideally should keep her chewing and chomping until she’s an old and crabby tabby.

While many adult cats will lose a tooth or two throughout their life, that doesn’t mean a cat losing teeth is normal – in fact, it’s usually a sign of injury or infection and will likely require veterinary attention.

Why is Your Cat Losing Teeth?

If your cat is losing teeth, there are likely three main causes: disease, injury, or diet. Periodontal disease (or gum disease) is the most common feline dental ailment. In fact, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, as many as 85 percent of cats over the age of six may have periodontal disease, which is caused by a buildup of plaque along the gum line that eventually causes teeth to loosen and fall out.

“Cats who are older are more likely to lose their teeth than younger cats,” says Nicole, a veterinary technician at Heritage Animal Hospital in Olathe, Kansas. “Cats will develop tartar and plaque on their teeth throughout their life, and these will eventually lead to gingivitis, which is a risk factor for tooth loss and can also lead to heart disease.”

A cat with gingivitis or another type of infection that may be related to a broken or injured tooth will likely have bad breath, and he may also drool, be unable to close his mouth, groom himself excessively, or stop eating due to the pain. Smelly breath could also be a sign of an abscessed tooth.

Any of these symptoms – including tooth loss in cats – merits an immediate visit to your vet, especially if your kitty’s gums are red and bleeding and he has sores in his mouth or discolored teeth. In addition to getting your cat started with different types of preventive care to avoid further tooth loss and damage, your vet may need to extract any broken or abscessed teeth.

How to Prevent Your Cat from Losing Teeth

According to Heritage Animal Hospital’s Nicole, the best way to prevent your cat from losing teeth is with routine dental care. “The gold standard is brushing your cat’s teeth, but you want to make sure any products you are using are labeled for cats; never use human toothpaste on cats,” she says. Nicole often refers patients to the Veterinary Oral Health Council to find toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other dental products that are safe for use on cats.

Your vet may suggest your kitty get his teeth professionally cleaned to prevent buildup of tartar and plaque. A good cleaning is generally recommended every one to two years, and the process frequently includes an examination, X-rays, anesthesia, and a thorough scraping above and below the gum line.

Nicole also recommends feeding your cat a diet designed to promote feline dental health. “You can find these products either through online websites such as Chewy, or your veterinarian may carry them,” she says. “Brands such as Hill’s, Purina, and Royal Canin make dental food – they may require a prescription but your vet can approve that for you.”

Thumbnail: Photography by ©Seiichi Tanaka | iStock / Getty Images Plus.

About the author:

Angela Lutz is a writer and editor who has been fascinated by felines since childhood. She has more than a decade of experience writing about everything from health care and books to yoga and spicy food. She has written for Catster since 2012. Angela lives near Kansas City, Mo., with her husband, son and three cats.

Learn more about cat health on catster.com: