When a cat’s teeth are yellow, it could be an early sign of gum disease or other health problems originating in the animal’s mouth. Eventually, the cat’s general health could suffer. Visiting a trusted veterinarian in DeSoto, TX, for an examination and teeth cleaning can protect your cat’s health.
Steps for Cleaning Yellowing Feline Teeth at Home
If your cat’s teeth are yellowing quickly after a cleaning appointment at the vet, it’s important to take steps at home to reduce the severity of the yellowing. You won’t completely prevent tartar buildup, but you can slow it, keeping the cat’s mouth healthier until the next office cleaning visit.
Some people brush the cat’s teeth every few days at home. This is often the most effective option when wondering how to treat yellow teeth in cats at home. However, some cats do not tolerate teeth cleaning at home and may scratch or bite you. Your vet can recommend toothpaste and techniques you can use that the animal might tolerate.
If your pet won’t allow teeth brushing, you might consider a water additive designed to reduce plaque buildup on the animal’s teeth. Some cat treats are designed to help prevent plaque, too.
When you try to begin cleaning the cat’s teeth after you notice signs of gum disease, the animal might bite or scratch you. The swollen and discolored gums are painful, and most cats won’t tolerate you touching these areas.
For additional advice on what to do if your cat’s teeth are yellow, contact your local veterinarian. This expert can provide dental care tips to use at home to reduce the effects of yellowing feline teeth.
How Veterinarians Clean Feline Teeth
When a cat’s teeth are yellow, rather than trying to clean them at home, many pet owners prefer visiting the veterinarian for help. Vets have training as feline dentists, and they know how to clean and care for your animal’s teeth in a way that can lengthen its lifespan.
Many cat owners schedule a dental cleaning with the veterinarian at the same time as they schedule an annual health exam. Before cleaning the animal’s teeth, veterinarians will want to perform a full exam to look for signs of gum disease or infection. They might need to treat the infection with antibiotics before cleaning the teeth. The animal might need pain medication to manage the effects of the gum disease until it heals.
For cats that don’t tolerate teeth brushing or other cleaning techniques, the vet can place the animal under anesthesia. This can be safer for both the cat and the professionals doing the cleaning. By letting the cat sleep through the process, the animal suffers less stress.
When cleaning the feline’s teeth, vets will start by removing plaque and tartar buildup along the gumline. They’ll inspect the cat’s gums, tongue, and other tissues in the mouth for signs of problems, a similar process to what your dentist does when cleaning your teeth.
For cats with loose or severely diseased teeth, the veterinarian may recommend removal. This can be done under the same general anesthesia used for cleaning.
Why Cleaning Your Cat’s Teeth Is Important
Some pet owners simply dislike the look of yellow teeth in a cat. However, when a cat’s teeth are yellow, it’s also often a sign of health problems affecting the animal’s mouth.
Discolored teeth may indicate that the animal is suffering from gum disease and deterioration. The cat’s breath may smell awful, or its gums might start bleeding after eating. Some cats refuse to eat hard food or may have digestive problems from failing to chew their food due to gum disease.
As the gum disease worsens, the feline’s yellow teeth may loosen or fall out. You might notice that the animal only chews on one side of the mouth or drools while eating when the teeth are loose. To keep your cat as healthy as possible, take steps to heal gum disease and clean yellowing teeth well before any of the teeth loosen, or the animal’s mouth might never recover.
When the animal’s gums become infected or when tartar builds up on the teeth, bacteria will be plentiful in the animal’s mouth. As the bacteria multiply, they may spread throughout the body, causing infections in internal organs. Poor kidney or heart health in the cat might start with a gum infection.
Things That Cause Feline Teeth Yellowing
Discoloration on a feline’s teeth can happen for many reasons, and identifying causes and solutions for yellow cat teeth and delivering treatments can help you reduce exposure at home. Some of the causes of yellowing feline teeth include:
- Buildup and hardening of plaque
- Loss of the enamel layer
- Untreated gum diseases
- Tooth infection
- Staining from certain foods
- Staining from medication
Older cats are more likely to have yellowing teeth. Most veterinarians recommend annual cleaning visits once your cats reach three years old to reduce the effects of yellowing.
Beyond noticing yellowing teeth, your cat’s gums may change color when tartar buildup is occurring. Cats with healthy mouths have pink gums. Bright red, dark pink, or pale gums are signs of problems.
If you see black spots on the gums, this is often a normal coloring, especially for cats with orange or black fur. However, if you’re worried, your veterinarian can let you know whether the spots are normal.
For Help With Annual Feline Dental Exams in DeSoto, TX, Contact Penny Paws Today
When a cat’s teeth are yellow, you shouldn’t ignore the problem and hope it goes away on its own. Buildup on the feline’s teeth will continue to worsen without intervention. You can use toothpaste designed for felines to help the animal between veterinarian visits.
You should also schedule an annual dental exam with the vets at Penny Paws. We can explain the important reasons for cleaning a cat’s teeth every year. To set up an appointment for cat dental care for yellowed teeth, call Penny Paws in DeSoto today at (469) 807-3030.