Cat Losing a Tooth or Chipped Tooth: What to Do

Name: Cat Losing a Tooth or Chipped Tooth: What to Do
Creator: Dr. Zubair Khalid

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-02

If your cat loses a tooth, check the mouth for bleeding, swelling, and broken tooth fragments, then call your veterinarian. A loose or missing adult tooth is usually a sign of dental disease, and a fractured tooth with a pink or red center is painful and needs prompt care. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

A fully missing tooth with no bleeding or pain signs still needs a vet visit within a few days, because tooth loss in cats is almost always caused by disease that will keep damaging the mouth [1][2].
A chipped tooth that exposes the pulp (you may see a pink, red, or dark spot in the center) is a dental emergency. The exposed nerve is painful and can become infected.
Bleeding that does not stop within a few minutes, a tooth hanging by tissue, swelling around the eye or jaw, drooling, or refusal to eat are same-day or emergency problems.
Do not pull a loose tooth yourself and do not give human pain relievers. Many are toxic to cats.
Most cats hide mouth pain well. A cat who is still eating can still have significant dental disease.

What a Lost or Chipped Tooth Looks Like in Cats

A missing tooth

You may notice a gap when your cat yawns or eats. Sometimes you find a tooth on the floor or in the food bowl. Cats have 30 adult teeth, and the small incisors in front and the premolars along the sides are the ones most often lost to disease [3].

A missing tooth is not always obvious. Cats often swallow a tooth that falls out while eating. You might only see a small amount of blood in the saliva, a little pink tinge on a toy, or your cat chewing on one side of the mouth.

A chipped or fractured tooth

A chip can be tiny and smooth, or it can be a deep fracture. The most serious fracture is one that reaches the pulp, the tissue inside the tooth that holds nerves and blood vessels. A tooth with pulp exposure often shows a pink or red dot in the broken center when it is fresh, and a dark spot later as the tissue dies.

Watch for these signs of mouth pain in cats:

Chewing on one side or dropping food
Drooling, sometimes with blood
Pawing at the mouth or face
Bad breath that has gotten worse
Flinching when you touch the head or jaw
Eating less, or preferring soft food
Swelling on the cheek, under the eye, or along the jaw

What is normal

It is normal for kittens to lose baby teeth. Kittens have 26 baby teeth and replace them with 30 adult teeth, usually between 3 and 6 months of age [3]. Finding a tiny tooth during that window is expected.

It is not normal for an adult cat to lose a tooth. The term permanent tooth is not quite accurate, because a large portion of adult cats will eventually lose one or more teeth to injury or disease. Only about 10 percent of cats make it through life without some kind of dental problem [1].

Main Causes of Tooth Loss and Chipped Teeth

Cause	Typical clues	How urgent
Periodontal (gum) disease	Bad breath, red or bleeding gums, tartar, loose teeth, tooth loss [1][2]	See a vet soon. Untreated disease destroys the bone and ligament that hold teeth [2]
Tooth resorption	A tooth that looks like it is dissolving at the gum line, pain when eating, often found on x-rays [2][4]	See a vet soon. This is a common and painful disease in cats [4]
Trauma	A fall, a fight, a hard chew toy, a sudden chip or broken tooth	Emergency if the pulp is exposed, the tooth is loose, or there is bleeding or facial swelling
Infection or abscess	Swelling under the eye or on the jaw, fever, drooling, not eating	Same day. Dental abscesses can spread
Cancer or other growths	A mass in the mouth, a tooth that shifts position, weight loss, bleeding	Same day to a few days. Needs an exam and often a biopsy
Normal kitten teething	Age 3 to 6 months, tiny teeth found, no pain signs [3]	Routine. Mention it at the next visit

Periodontal disease is the most common dental problem in cats and affects an estimated 85 percent of cats over age six [1]. Plaque hardens on the tooth surface, and bacterial poisons and enzymes trigger inflammation in the gums. Without treatment, this can progress to an end-stage condition where extraction is the only reasonable option [1].

Tooth resorption is another major cause. In one review of 166 cats with radiographically confirmed resorption, brachycephalic cats (flat-faced breeds) were younger at diagnosis and had more advanced Stage 4 lesions than other cats [4]. The same study found no significant difference in diet type or wet food consumption between groups, so food alone does not explain every case [4].

Red Flags That Make It an Emergency

Call an emergency clinic right away if you see any of these:

Bleeding from the mouth that does not stop after a few minutes of gentle pressure with gauze
A tooth that is hanging by a thread of tissue, or a jaw that looks shifted or broken
Swelling around the eye, under the eye, or on the side of the face
Trouble breathing, or a swollen area that is growing fast
Drooling with head shaking, or a cat who cannot close the mouth
A cat who has not eaten or drunk for 24 hours
Collapse, weakness, or a cat who seems disoriented after a fall or fight

A chipped tooth with pulp exposure is also urgent. The nerve is open to the mouth, which is full of bacteria. Infection can travel into the tooth root and the bone around it.

What You Can Safely Do at Home While You Wait

Check the mouth gently

Wrap your cat in a towel with only the head out. Lift the lip on each side and look at the teeth and gums. Do not put your fingers deep in the mouth, because a painful cat may bite even if it never has before. Look for blood, a broken tooth, a gap, swelling, or a bad smell.

Control minor bleeding

If the gum is bleeding a little, press a clean gauze square or a cotton ball gently on the spot for a few minutes. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol in the mouth.

Offer soft food and water

If your cat will eat, offer wet food or soften dry food with warm water. Keep water available. Do not force food or water.

Do not do these things

Do not pull a loose tooth. You can break the root and cause bleeding or infection.
Do not give aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or any human pain medicine. These can be toxic to cats.
Do not use human dental products or mouthwash.
Do not try to file or smooth a chipped tooth.

If your cat is in pain and your vet is open, call and ask what is safe to give. The veterinarian will calculate any dose from your cat's weight and health.

What the Veterinarian Will Check and Test

Your vet will start with a full physical exam, including the head, jaw, and lymph nodes. Then comes an oral exam. A full assessment under anesthesia is needed for dental x-rays and treatment, and anesthesia is an essential part of feline dentistry [5]. Cats with oral disease and cats recovering from dental surgery generally have pain, so pain control before, during, and after the procedure is standard [5].

Expect these steps:

Dental radiographs (x-rays). These show roots, bone loss, and resorption that you cannot see above the gum line. In one case report, full-mouth radiographs confirmed multiple teeth with resorption and also found an unrelated calcified structure in the jaw [6].
Periodontal probing. The vet measures the pockets between the gum and tooth. Deep pockets mean the supporting tissues are damaged [2].
A treatment plan. Options include a professional cleaning, extraction, or referral to a dental specialist. Gum disease treatment requires a professional cleaning under anesthesia. Cleanings done without anesthesia may make the tooth look better but do not treat the plaque below the gum line [2].
Pain management. Multimodal analgesia is a standard part of dental care in cats [5].
Lab work. Blood tests may be done before anesthesia, especially in older cats.

If your cat needs ongoing care for gum disease, see How To Treat Dental Disease In Cats.

When Extraction Is Needed

Extraction is not a failure. For many cats, it is the kindest option. Advanced periodontal disease in cats can quickly reach a stage where extraction is the only reasonable treatment [1]. Teeth damaged by resorption are painful, and removing them often improves eating and mood.

Cats do well without some or even most of their teeth. They do not chew like people do. Many cats eat normally after healing, especially with wet food or softened kibble.

Prevention and Monitoring

Brush the teeth

Daily brushing is the best home care. Use a soft cat toothbrush and pet toothpaste. Start slow, with a finger or gauze, and reward calm behavior.

Schedule dental checks

Ask your vet to check the mouth at every wellness visit. The 2025 FelineVMA guidelines support high quality oral healthcare in general practice, with exams of the awake cat followed by assessment under anesthesia when needed [5].

Watch for early signs

Bad breath is often the first sign of gum disease [2]. Other early clues include red gums, tartar, and chewing changes. Catching these early can save teeth.

Know your cat's risk

Flat-faced breeds may develop advanced tooth resorption at a younger age [4]. Cats with chronic gingivostomatitis also need close monitoring [4].

For a full home plan, see How To Prevent Dental Problems In Cats and Prevent Dental Problems In Cats.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

This article cannot diagnose your cat. Only a veterinarian who examines your cat and reviews x-rays can do that. Individual cases need a veterinarian.

Use these timing guides:

Emergency now: Bleeding that will not stop, a hanging tooth, a broken jaw, facial swelling that is growing, trouble breathing, or a cat who cannot eat or drink.
Same day: A fresh chip with a pink or red center, a loose adult tooth, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or a cat who is clearly painful.
Routine visit within a few days: A missing tooth with no bleeding, mild bad breath, or a small smooth chip with no exposed pulp.
Routine visit at the next checkup: A kitten losing baby teeth with no pain signs.

If you are unsure, call your vet. A phone call costs nothing and can prevent a small problem from becoming a serious one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I worry if my cat loses a tooth?

Yes, you should have your vet look at the mouth. Adult tooth loss in cats is usually caused by gum disease or tooth resorption, and both keep damaging the mouth until they are treated [1][2]. Even if your cat seems fine, the disease is often still active.

Can a chipped tooth heal on its own?

No, a fractured tooth does not heal. If the chip is small and smooth, it may not need treatment right away. If the pulp is exposed, the tooth needs veterinary care, because the open nerve is painful and can get infected.

Is my cat in pain if a tooth is broken?

Often yes, even if your cat is still eating. Cats hide mouth pain well. Signs include chewing on one side, drooling, flinching when touched, and eating less. Tooth resorption is described as a common and painful disease in cats [4].

Will my cat be able to eat after a tooth extraction?

Yes, most cats eat well after healing. Cats do not need teeth to swallow kibble or wet food. Your vet will give pain medicine and diet instructions for the first days after surgery [5].

How can I tell if my cat has an infection in the mouth?

Look for bad breath, red or bleeding gums, swelling on the face, drooling, and a cat who pulls away when you touch the head. Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the tissues around the teeth, caused by plaque bacteria [2]. A vet exam and x-rays are needed to find the source.

References

When Kitty Needs a Dentist. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dental Disorders of Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Dental Development of Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Association of Skull Type, Diet, and Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Tooth Resorption in Cats Receiving Dental Treatment. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2026.
2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2025.
Sialolith in a minor salivary gland of an 8-year-old European domestic shorthair cat: a case report. Veterinary research communications, 2025.