Kittens normally lose their baby teeth as adult teeth come in, usually by about six months of age. An adult cat losing a tooth is different: tooth resorption and periodontal disease are common causes, and an injury can fracture or damage a tooth. Because cats often hide mouth pain, a loose, broken, or newly missing adult tooth deserves a veterinary dental examination.
Is it normal for cats to lose teeth?
It depends on the cat’s age. Kittens have 26 baby teeth, which are normally replaced by 30 permanent teeth by about six months. Adults should not lose teeth as part of ordinary teething. A missing or loose tooth in an adult cat may reflect disease or injury, even if the cat still eats.
You may not find a kitten’s shed tooth; kittens sometimes swallow one while eating. A baby tooth that remains beside its erupting adult replacement is called a retained or persistent deciduous tooth. It can crowd the adult tooth and trap debris, so ask a veterinarian to assess it rather than trying to pull it at home. Mild, temporary chewing discomfort or drooling can occur during teething, but persistent discomfort, an unusually positioned tooth, or significant difficulty eating should be checked. Cornell Feline Health Center and VCA describe normal kitten tooth replacement and retained baby teeth.
Why might an adult cat lose a tooth?
Tooth resorption
Tooth resorption occurs when cells break down the mineralized tissues of a tooth. The damage may progress from the root toward the crown, sometimes creating a defect near the gumline or causing the crown to disappear. It can be painful, and affected cats may drool, eat reluctantly, turn their head while chewing, swallow food without chewing, become irritable, or prefer soft food. Some show few obvious signs.
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Cornell identifies resorption as the most common cause of tooth loss in cats and reports that 30–70% of cats show some sign of it. Merck says more than 60% may have evidence during their lifetime. These are figures stated by the respective sources, not interchangeable estimates: Cornell’s article was updated in June 2017, while Merck’s resorption topic was last updated in September 2024. The cause of idiopathic resorption has not been established; dietary vitamin D excess has been proposed but is not a proven explanation. See Cornell’s dental disease overview, Cornell’s tooth resorption information, and the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Periodontal disease
Plaque can lead to gingivitis, which, if untreated, can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis damages the tissues and bone that support teeth; affected teeth may loosen and eventually be lost. Signs can include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath, gum recession, visible roots, mobile teeth, drooling, or difficulty eating.
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The Merck Veterinary Manual reports that up to 70% of cats have some level of periodontal disease by age two. This is a population estimate, not a prediction for an individual cat; the reviewed topic does not state a year for the underlying estimate. More detail is available in Merck’s periodontal disease guidance and Cornell’s dental disease overview.
Injury or a fractured tooth
Trauma can fracture or damage a tooth. A broken tooth may be painful or allow infection, and the visible crown alone does not show whether the root is healthy. Have a veterinarian examine a tooth that is broken, discolored, loose, or newly missing. Merck’s owner guidance on feline dental disorders also describes injury and dental disease as reasons for adult tooth loss.
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What signs suggest a painful dental problem?
Cats may mask oral pain, and an absence of obvious symptoms does not rule out disease. Watch for changes such as:
- Bad breath, red or swollen gums, or gums that bleed
- Drooling or pawing at the mouth
- Reluctance to eat, avoiding hard food, or preferring soft food
- Chewing on one side, turning the head while eating, or swallowing without chewing
- A loose, broken, discolored, or missing adult tooth
Arrange a veterinary oral examination if you notice these signs. Do not wait for a cat to stop eating completely before seeking care. The signs described by Cornell and Merck can indicate problems that are not fully visible at home.
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How do veterinarians diagnose and treat tooth loss?
A veterinarian may examine the mouth, probe around the teeth, and take dental X-rays. Disease can affect roots and supporting bone beneath the gumline, so looking only at the visible crown may not reveal the problem. A complete assessment of periodontitis and evaluation of tooth resorption may require an examination and radiographs under anesthesia. X-ray findings help determine the type and extent of disease and guide treatment.
Treatment depends on what the examination shows. Periodontal care may include professional scaling and polishing; advanced disease may require extraction. Resorption treatment aims to address the affected tooth and pain. Depending on the radiographic findings, options can include extraction or, in selected cases, crown amputation. These are veterinary decisions, not interchangeable options to choose at home. Do not attempt to extract a tooth yourself or give human painkillers; antibiotics alone do not correct the underlying dental problem.
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Removing diseased teeth can still leave a cat with a good quality of life. Merck notes that dogs and cats can function without teeth and may have excellent or improved quality of life after diseased teeth are removed. The important step is to have a veterinarian identify and treat the source of pain.
Can you prevent dental disease at home?
Daily toothbrushing can remove plaque and help prevent it from hardening into calculus. Once calculus has formed, brushing will not remove it; professional scaling and polishing is needed. Ask your veterinarian to recommend suitable products and a safe brushing approach for your cat. Brushing is preventive plaque control, not treatment for a resorbing, loose, or missing tooth.
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