Periodontal disease is inflammation and infection around the tooth support structures: the gums, ligament and bone that hold teeth in place. From the outside it may look like bad breath, red gums or tartar, but the important damage often sits below the gumline where it cannot be judged by sight alone.
This is why dental care is not simply cosmetic. A mouth can look only moderately dirty and still contain painful pockets, loose teeth, root disease, tooth resorption or bone loss. The goal of assessment is to understand which teeth can be protected and which teeth are already causing pain or infection.
Gingivitis means the gums are inflamed but the deeper tooth support has not yet been lost. At that stage, professional cleaning and better home care may prevent progression. Periodontitis means attachment has been lost around the tooth. Once bone and ligament support are damaged, the plan may need to include periodontal treatment, extraction or closer monitoring.
Owners often see the early part of the story: breath changes, red gum margins, visible tartar or bleeding when the mouth is handled. The deeper question is whether there are pockets, root changes, bone loss or teeth that are no longer stable. That question usually needs anaesthetised examination, periodontal probing and dental x-rays.
Dental disease can affect any dog or cat, but some pets are at higher risk because of tooth crowding, small jaw size, breed, previous dental disease, medical conditions, diet, home-care tolerance or age. Cats may also have tooth resorption or painful inflammatory mouth disease that is not obvious until the mouth is examined properly.
The frustrating part for owners is that many pets continue eating. They may chew on one side, swallow biscuits whole, avoid hard treats, groom less, become quieter, drool, paw at the mouth or simply seem older. These changes are easy to miss when they happen slowly.
A dental plan may include scale and polish, dental charting, x-rays, periodontal probing, extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, pain relief, antibiotics only when appropriate, and a home-care plan once the mouth is comfortable. Different teeth in the same mouth can need different decisions.
That is why we are careful about promises before the anaesthetised assessment. We can often estimate what may be needed from an awake examination, but the final plan is guided by what we find when the mouth can be examined safely and completely.
Return to the main dental care page for the broader pathway from signs at home to assessment and treatment.
Use this when you want to understand how charting, probing and x-rays change dental decisions.
Read this if anaesthesia, monitoring, dental blocks or recovery are the main concern.
See how current guidance supports full-mouth assessment, x-rays, anaesthesia, home care and product choices.
Brushing, dental diets, wipes, chews and water additives may slow plaque and tartar, but they cannot remove established disease below the gumline or make a painful tooth healthy again. They are most helpful when the mouth is comfortable enough for regular care and the product is appropriate for the pet.
If your pet resists mouth handling, that may be fear, lack of training, pain or all three. We can help separate those possibilities so home care becomes kinder and more realistic rather than another daily battle.
If your pet has bad breath, red gums, tartar, chewing changes, drooling, broken teeth or a mouth that seems sensitive, we can assess whether monitoring, home care or a dental procedure is the most useful next step.
Useful when gum redness, bleeding or inflammation is the first sign you have noticed.
Helpful if you are deciding whether home care is enough or a dental procedure is needed.
Learn how to introduce mouth care gradually once the mouth is comfortable enough for handling.
