Signs of Dental Disease — Dental Hygiene at Home — Learn — Lapdog
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Signs of Dental Disease

Recognising symptoms that indicate your pet may have dental problems.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Because pets hide dental pain so well, you need to know what subtle signs to watch for. Any of these should prompt a visit to your vet:

Changes in Eating

  • Dropping food while eating
  • Chewing on one side of the mouth
  • Preferring soft food over dry food
  • Eating more slowly than usual
  • Reluctance to eat despite appearing hungry

Oral Signs

  • Bad breath — persistent foul odour, not just normal dog breath
  • Excessive drooling or drooling with blood
  • Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
  • Visible tartar (brown or yellow deposits) on the teeth
  • Loose, broken, or missing teeth
  • Pawing at the mouth or face

Behavioural Changes

  • Reluctance to have the face or head touched
  • Head shyness or flinching when approached
  • Loss of interest in chew toys or games
  • Irritability or withdrawal
  • Facial swelling (especially below the eye — this can indicate a tooth root abscess)
Info

Cats are particularly skilled at hiding dental pain. A very common condition in cats is feline tooth resorption (previously called FORLs), where the tooth structure breaks down. This is extremely painful but often shows no obvious symptoms. Regular veterinary dental checks are especially important for cats — do not rely on visual inspection alone.

Dental Health in Different Life Stages

Puppies and Kittens

Baby teeth start falling out around 3 to 4 months of age. Occasionally a baby tooth does not fall out when the adult tooth erupts (retained deciduous tooth). If you notice a baby tooth sitting alongside an adult tooth, mention it to your vet — retained teeth can cause crowding, misalignment, and increased plaque buildup.

Adult Pets

Aim for a veterinary dental check at least once a year as part of your pet’s annual health check. Some pets may need more frequent checks depending on their breed and dental history.

Senior Pets

Dental disease becomes more prevalent with age. Senior pets should have dental assessments every six months if possible. Tooth loss, gum recession, and worn teeth are common in older pets, and dental infections can place additional stress on ageing organs.

Quiz

Dental Symptom Quiz

Your dog has started dropping food while eating and chewing only on one side. What could this indicate?

A The food is too hard and needs to be changed
B The dog is being fussy and will grow out of it
C Possible dental pain — a vet check is recommended
D The dog needs a smaller bowl
Dropping food and one-sided chewing are classic signs of dental pain. The pet is trying to avoid using a painful tooth or area of the mouth. This warrants a visit to your vet for a dental examination — do not wait for the symptoms to worsen.
True or False

Senior Dental Check

Senior pets only need dental checks if they are showing visible signs of dental problems.
True
False
Senior pets should have dental assessments at least annually, ideally every six months, even without visible symptoms. Dental disease becomes more prevalent with age, and pets hide pain effectively. Early detection through regular checks prevents more serious and costly problems.
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