Cat Dental Problems

My cat piccolo is 12 years old and through the years has had his teeth clean on several occasions which entails him going under anesthesia.  The other day his canine tooth fell out.  His gums above the tooth that fell out is red and swollen. I am bringing him to the vet tomorrow, however, I don't want to put a 12 year old cat under Anesthesia every year to have his teeth cleaned.  I've been trying to massage the gums with a gauze pad soak in salt water but wondered if there was something else that I could use to help with the redness of gums.  The tooth came out in one piece but don't know if the canine has roots??

[Savas]

It sounds like an infetion or abcess (abscess). I'd get him to a vet for antibiotics before it spreads and does further damage.

Here's a link about kitty dental hygenie;

petcaretips.net/feline_dental_care.html