Our little felines have a total of 30 teeth (12 incisors, 4 fangs, 10 premolars and 4 molars), however, like us, the milk teeth first appear before the month of life to, then start the change to permanent teeth from 3 or 4 months of age. To keep these teeth in a correct state of he alth throughout their lives, it is essential to sanitize them through tooth brushing, teething toys, proper nutrition and dental cleanings in the clinic when necessary.
When cats' dental hygiene and diet are not optimal, dental problems can occur that cause the natural white enamel of the teeth to become increasingly yellowish, along with other clinical signs In most cases. Do you want to know why your cat has yellow teeth? Continue reading this article on our site, where we explain the main causes of yellow teeth in cats: tartar, periodontal disease, caries and feline chronic gingivostomatitis.
Tartar
Tartar, also called dental calculus, consists of a hardening or calcification of bacterial plaque on tooth enamel due to the deposit of minerals (phosphorus, calcium or potassium s alts from saliva) on this plaque. Bacterial plaque is formed by the union of bacteria normally present in the cat's mouth with food and protein debris. These tartar deposits are yellowish or brown in color, which is why cats with tartar have yellow teeth. The teeth most commonly affected by tartar in these animals are the molars, but the most anterior teeth in the dental arch can also be affected.
On some occasions, tartar can form on the edge of the gums or under them, irritating them and predisposing them to inflammation. Because tartar provides an additional base for bacteria to attach and perpetuate, it can predispose to cavities and gum disease.
Treatment
You must bear in mind that the decomposition of carbohydrates in food forms lactic acid, which contributes to the decomposition of nearby gums, as well as damaging tooth enamel and the periodontal ligament near the gum. tooth root. For this reason, if our cat has a lot of tartar or it has already caused more severe damage to the soft tissues of the cat's mouth, the solution is perform a dental cleaningat the veterinary center. This dental cleaning is performed under general anesthesia and specific devices are used to clean and polish the feline's teeth and, if necessary, the damaged pieces are extracted.
For more details, don't miss our Tips for removing tartar in cats.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, consists of a progression of tartar that we have just discussed. It is an inflammatory disease where tartar appears behind the bacterial plaque and then the bacteria continue to advance under the gums, inflaming them (gingivitis), and reach the tissue of dental or periodontal support, producing loss of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament, which generates dental mobility, its resorption or destruction with consequent loss or infections (abscesses). In the most serious and advanced cases of feline periodontal disease, communications can be created with other cavities such as the nasal or ocular cavities and even spread to other organs and systems such as the heart (bacterial endocarditis) or the kidney and produce septicemia.
Periodontal disease is also very common in cats, with an estimated 8 out of 10 cats over 3 years of age presenting this disease to a greater or lesser degree. Some symptoms that a cat with periodontal disease may exhibit are as follows:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Yellow teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Refusal of hard food
- Difficulty chewing
- Hypersalivation
- Moving Teeth
Treatment
In milder cases, a dental cleaning at the veterinary center will suffice, but in more serious caseswill be necessary dental extraction and even some regenerative techniques of the dental periodontium to delay the evolution of the pathology.
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis
Feline chronic gingivostomatitis is a disease that consists of chronic oral inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa, and that sometimes it can extend to the soft palate and tongue. One of the clinical signs that characterize this disease in cats is caudal stomatitis or inflammation of the most caudal part of the mouth.
On many occasions, this disease can appear together with yellow teeth, either due to tartar, bacterial plaque or the aging of the cat, which reduces the whiteness of its enamel, so it is normal for cats to with chronic gingivostomatitis have more yellowish teeth. In addition, on many occasions the teeth are affected internally, producing dental resorption.
Cats with chronic gingivostomatitis do not want to eat even if they are hungry due to the enormous pain this causes them, so they lose weight and they stop grooming for the same reason. Other signs that may appear in this pathology are hypersalivation, bad breath, ulcers, inflammation of the gums, oral mucosa or lips and, sometimes, inflammation of the pharynx and glottis.
Treatment
To treat this disease, it is necessary to reduce the accumulation of bacterial plaque, control inflammation and damage to the teeth. The drugs used are analgesics (meloxicam and/or buprenorphine) and antibiotics such as clindamycin, although the ideal is to perform an antibiogram to choose the effective antibiotic and reduce the appearance of resistance. Likewise, oral cleaning is necessary. Rinses with chlorhexidine and water or applying chlorhexidine adhesive gels can also be used. In addition, it is a good idea to use feed that is hypoallergenic or contains novel protein because one possible cause is the presence of food allergens.
In teeth affected by dental resorption or severe periodontitis, it is necessary to proceed to extraction of the dental pieces In the most serious cases of feline chronic gingivostomatitis, or in those in which after a few months of the extraction of some pieces there is no improvement, all the molars and premolars of the cat should be extracted, since it is considered that this is the best therapy for this disease to have cured up to 60% of cats. In those that have not been cured, this treatment at least relieves pain and reduces inflammation and, therefore, the cats begin to feed properly; and if mesenchymal stem cells or interferon omega are used, the improvement is more noticeable in these cases.
Cavities
Another reason that can explain why your cat has yellow teeth is the appearance of cavities. Caries is nothing more than the demineralization and degradation of tooth enamel produced by bacteria present in the oral cavity, which release a series of acids to degrade the Carbohydrates that remain in the cat's mouth after feeding. These acids are the ones that, by their nature, begin to demineralize tooth enamel by dissolving the calcium s alts that make up tooth enamel. If this degradation continues to progress into the dentin or pulp of the tooth, it can lead to the complete destruction of the affected tooth.
Some symptoms of tooth decay in cats include the following:
- Mouth pain
- Loss of appetite or anorexia
- Bad breath
- Tartar (yellow teeth)
- Fever if there are secondary infections
- Difficulty biting
- Hypersalivation
- Bleeding
Treatment
When they are mild and have not affected the deeper layers of the tooth, the treatment of caries in cats consists of a remineralization and reconstruction of the pieceaffected. However, in the most serious cases of feline caries, the treatment consists of extraction of the affected tooth or teeth, although if possible it can also be performed a reconstruction of the tooth or endodontics.
If you notice that your cat has yellow teeth, swollen gums and is also in pain, do not hesitate and go to the veterinary clinic, since you have already been able to verify that some of the causes are really serious.
