Gingivitis but clean teeth?

My Zoey has this and she is one of only two cats my two vets have seen with it... Most with this have some form of reabsorbtive issues... Zoey does not, I now use a dental supplement to help the issue

pardon the fact I cannot spell...
http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-tooth-care.html
http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/...oth_Resorption

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/Pe...b-bad73d9e5e4d

If the cat is on an all dry diet, could it be something as simple as excessive abrasion of the kibble?

If on all wet, I believe the opposite is a concern, as the cats never have to actually chew anything, and there is no abrasive action of the food on the teeth and gumline.

They do have some kibble or treats that are slightly larger (without being too huge to cause gagging) so that they actually have to bite through it to help remove calculus, or if dry is only a small supplement to a primarily wet diet (like mine), I believe Hills and Royal Canin and Science Diet make kibble specifically designed for dental health.

Regular filtered water should also contain a small amount of fluoride, if you can get a few water fountains around the house to encourage them which should also help wash down some of the food bits.

Going raw is another great option, but can be difficult to manage, and harmful if not managed properly.

If you poke the exposed areas and her mouth moves to chatter, it may mean it's a resorptive lesion, which is a disease called tooth resorption. Otherwise it could be gingivitis. I am just starting on this latter journey with my cat Majel, but went through the former journey with my cat Linus. Unfortunately there is no cure for tooth resorption at this time, and the only treatment is the removal of the affected teeth and if affected the root canals below them. But most kitties do fine without teeth or with less teeth!

A dental examination is in order, with a reliable vet that you trust and feel comfortable with to discuss your options. I am in the midst of perhaps changing vets because my vet was very flaky about my journey with Majel.

There are lots of people here that can teach you about brushing your cats teeth, I'm sure! And yes, just like people, just because you have pretty teeth doesn't mean the gums are happy

Hopefully I can learn with you!

Please post a picture if you just can get a good one. This sounds exactly like Ossi's blister. I feel just as horrible. I noticed it about 6 wks before his annual physical. I thought about taking him to vet earlier but then I thought that when I get a blister in my mouth it often takes good 3 weeks to heal and I am able to use mouthwashes etc when he isn't. His was right next to the tooth too, so I thought it got rubbed.

The vet did not think it was urgent (and as I was looking for 2nd opinion vet I kind of needed that extra time anyway), so it did not seem to make a difference. Still I felt horrible and am still confused as to what this is. I would be interested in seeing if it's similar (I cant get a good pic with the camera I have).

I wonder if anyone would have a good video clip about this chatter?

Ossi does not seem to be particularly sensitive re: this blistery tooth which I find surprising when I read about these lesions. I am also thinking I want this diagnosis confirmed by another vet before I take him for a big procedure. I continued to search for a specialist and it seems that there might after all be a dental specialist closer than 3 hr drive to us.

Ossi has some gingivitis but I have no idea what other things could break his gum like that. I do know cats hide pain well but he's a wimpy guy and still seems to choose to crunch with that tooth and let's me brush his teeth etc.

I did get some Maxi-Guard gel, so now everybody in the house is getting some vitamin yumyums spread on their gums in the morning. I will see if this generally improves their gum health. They all seem to like the gel except that it is cold as it needs to be kept in fridge. I still intend to take everyone for an extra oral check up as I am a little doubtful our regular vet's dental check up has been so profound. I just need to make up my mind who to trust...

It could be a growth of some type or it could be overgrown gums if it is moving up her tooth. I would go to the vet.
I have a cat whose gums get overgrown and irritated and she has had to have them trimmed twice so far. She's a Maine Coon and unfortunately they are known for having dental problems.

Best to take her to the vet for your peace of mind. Zimmie gave no indication that she had FORLS. Would never have been discovered, but it caused blood in her urine eventually. She had 5 teeth extracted this month. She never had bad breath or showed any difficulty in eating. The vet was terrific, according to DH, and the vet told him that her own cat has FORLS. Only treatment is extraction.

If your cat has tooth resorption lesions (which have all sorts of names: neck lesions, resorptive lesions etc.,.) it doesn't mean that it will spread to all the teeth, but it may. And there are varying levels of resorptive lesions.

Here is a VERY quick rundown about the disease:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....1+2121&aid=380

I have done a LOT of research on the disease after Linus passing away and my writing of his book "Linus's Blanket" so I have learned a lot.

I am still looking for a good video to show you "chattering" but that may take a while.

At some points there is not much pain at certain levels, but at other ones, it's horrible. Teeth break off, it's like they're eating with razors in their mouth.

If you are suspecting problems in the future with eating, I would start trying to vary your cats diet as much as possible. This has been known to slow the progression of tooth resorption disease but ALSO it will help if your cat is not good about eating their kibble after tooth extraction surgery - if your cat eats dry food. They will have much more alternatives on foods to eat.

Also, if the disease is allowed to progress, they may start having aversion problems towards their food. They may "blame" the food for hurting them, rather than their mouth.

Also without having their teeth cleaned more regularly, it may mean a lot more bacterial infections which can enter through the bloodstream in the lesions in their mouth. This is something that happened with my Linus. Bacteria had begun to kill his kidneys and his heart.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, just be proactive and help. It's not neccessarily a grim prognosis if that ends up being the issue with your kitty; in fact I know a few people who've had cats that had all their teeth out and are now happy as clams.

Bascially, tooth resorption is an immune disorder, and for some reason the immune system attacks the teeth. There has not been found a reason for this disease, but it has been around a long time (at least 800 years; remains of that age have been found with evidence of this disease in their mouth).

gingivitis is gum disease and will affect the teeth eventually, but the teeth can appear clean with gum disease. I too recommend a trip to the vet and a thorough mouth exam, and if your vet recommends a dental, have it done.

I have clean teeth too, but I also have trouble with gum disease, if I don't floss twice daily I'm back at the dentist for horrible painful deep under the gum scrapings called root planing.