Gingivitis

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General information on Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums due to tartar buildup along the gum line forcing the gum away from the teeth. Gingivitis can affect the gums surrounding one tooth or it can be widely spread and affect the gums throughout the entire mouth. Gingivitis is the mildest form of the periodontal disease. Gum infections can also occur when a cat has feline panleukopenia, kidney and liver failure, immune and nutritional disorders, or feline viral respiratory disease complex. In gingivitis, should it remain untreated, the infection and inflammation spread to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth and cause that support to weaken and eventually the tooth will fall out.

Symptoms of Gingivitis

Some of the symptoms for gingivitis may be bad breath, drooling, a receding gum line, gums that bleed easily, swollen or red gums, difficulty eating, painful gums, and potentially the cat may stop grooming itself.

Treatments for Gingivitis

The first step to treat gingivitis in cats is to have the cat’s teeth professional cleaned, preferable by your veterinarian. The cat’s teeth should then be brushed on a daily basis to keep the gingivitis from coming back. There are special diets for cats with gingivitis that help reduce plaque and tartar buildup. The veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, interferon, and other immune modulators. Should these medications not work, the only way to get rid of the gingivitis is to remove the teeth from the affected areas. If the gingivitis is caused by an underlying disease, in order to permanently get rid of the gingivitis that disease will need to be treated first.

Personal Experience

Gingivitis - personal experiences