Why Is Your Cat Losing Its Teeth Even With Regular Cleanings?

If you're regularly brushing your cat's teeth and taking them to the veterinarian for professional exams and cleanings, you may be frustrated to learn that your cat has bad teeth. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common problem for cats to have, even if their pet parents are taking excellent care of them. Read on to learn more about what causes your cat's teeth to start breaking down and what you can do about it.

Resorptive Lesions

Resorptive lesions are a type of damage to teeth that is similar to cavities but completely separate from them. Cavities occur when the enamel on the outside of a tooth is broken down by acid or damage, resulting in decay to the lower portions of the tooth. Resorption begins in the same way, but independently of acid or external damage.

How They Happen

Tooth resorption is a bit of a mystery for veterinarians and scientists alike. This disorder can strike cats with impeccable oral care, meaning that it isn't connected to a buildup of plaque or tartar. Veterinarians think that it may be an autoimmune disorder or an imbalance of the pH levels of the mouth that causes the enamel to break down. In any case, the disorder is more common with purebred cats, especially in the Siamese and Persian breeds.

What You Can Do

If your cat has a resorptive lesion and you've been faithfully maintaining their oral health, that doesn't mean you should give up or stop. Your cat's other teeth have most likely been protected from cavities, and you're also helping them to avoid gum disease, which can be catastrophic for your cat's health.

Instead, keep brushing your cat's teeth, and make sure not to skip your regular visits to the veterinarian. Once a cat has a resorptive lesion, your vet will know to keep an eye out for future lesions, which may require x-rays to detect them early on. The good news is that if a resorptive lesion is caught early on, your cat may only need to have a portion of their tooth removed, rather than the entire tooth and all of its roots. This will be more affordable for you, and will have a quicker recovery time for your cat.

Resorptive lesions are a painful and unfortunate disorder for cats to develop, but your cat can be saved a lot of discomfort if the problem is caught early on. If you move or switch to a new veterinarian, make sure that they're aware of your cat's history of resorptive lesions so they can carefully monitor them for any additional lesions.