These days, more and more pet owners are becoming aware of the fact that their animals need dental care just like people do. If you haven't had your cat's teeth cleaned professionally, it may surprise you to learn that there's a lot more at risk here than simply bad breath and cavities. Here's what you should know about the potential risks that come with poor oral health in cats.

Tooth Loss

One major problem many cats face with poor oral health is the loss of their teeth. In some cases, the teeth may simply fall out after decaying severely enough that the roots of the teeth are damaged. In other cases, the teeth may need to be extracted because they've become so badly decayed.

In either case, this level of tooth decay can cause serious problems for cats. While cats do a great job of hiding their pain, there's no argument that cavities hurt, and the infections they can cause in the gums and bones surrounding the tooth are even worse. Your cat may need help right now if their teeth are in bad shape.

Weight Loss

Unfortunately, many cats who have bad teeth or gum disease end up losing weight as a result. There's a couple of reasons for this.

The first is the simplest; without teeth, it can be difficult to eat, and with painful teeth, it can hurt. While eating is necessary to survive, most people know how uncomfortable it can be to try and eat with a toothache. However, cats have no way of dictating what they eat or switching to a softer food when their teeth hurt. If you feed your cat kibble, this may particularly cause issues.

Another problem is that digestion starts in the mouth. Chewing one's food is a necessity in order to start breaking it down with enzymes before it ever reaches the stomach. Without being able to adequately chew their food, your cat may vomit more often, losing valuable nutrients in the process, potentially leading to long-term weight loss.

Kidney Disease

While the science on this one isn't 100% confirmed, more and more veterinarians and scientists are starting to believe that chronic bodily inflammation - like the kind seen with gum disease and tooth decay - can contribute to cats developing kidney disease. This is a huge problem for cats, because unlike humans, there is no major treatment for the illness. Kidney dialysis isn't a possibility for cats, and the vast majority of veterinarians can't or don't perform kidney transplants. As a result, kidney disease in cats is ultimately fatal and should be prevented at all costs. 

Protecting your cat from these issues could be as simple as bringing them in for teeth cleaning every once in a while. Talk to your vet to set up a schedule and learn more.

To learn more about cat dentists, contact a professional near you.