Urgent — same day vet contact
Within 1-2 weeks
Cat with a broken tooth or dental pain
Drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, or visible broken tooth in cats — book a vet appointment; feline dental disease is widespread and painful.
Recognise the signs
- Drooling, sometimes blood-tinged
- Chewing on one side
- Dropping food
- Pawing at mouth
- Bad breath
- Reduced grooming
- Off food, weight loss
First aid steps
- Soft food.
- Vet appointment for full dental exam, often under anaesthetic.
Do NOT
- Do not give hard treats.
- Do not give human painkillers — paracetamol kills cats.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Refusing food more than 24 hours
- Facial swelling (abscess)
Common causes
- Trauma (fights, falls)
- Resorptive lesions (very common in cats)
- Severe dental disease
What the vet will need to know
- Symptoms and duration
- Eating changes
- Drooling, blood
Aftercare
- Most need extraction.
- Soft food 1-2 weeks post-extraction.
- Pain relief.
- Resorptive lesions often affect multiple teeth over time — regular checks.
Prevention
- Annual dental checks from middle age.
- Daily tooth brushing in willing cats.
- Dental diets for some cats.
- Avoid hard treats.
Frequently asked questions
What are resorptive lesions?
A common feline dental condition where teeth are progressively destroyed from within. Painful, often hidden under gum line. X-rays under anaesthetic confirm. Treatment is extraction.
Can cats brush their teeth?
Some accept brushing with cat-specific paste and patience. Many won't tolerate, in which case dental diets and regular professional cleans matter most.
How often should my cat have a dental check?
Annual exam, with full dental under anaesthetic every 1-3 years from middle age depending on findings.