Why does my cat lick jelly but avoid meat chunks in wet food?

My rescue cat has become incredibly fussy and will only lick the liquid gravy or jelly from her jelly cat food, leaving the actual meat to waste. Because she isn't eating the solid meat, she is rapidly losing weight, lacks energy, and shows signs of lethargy. I am worried this picky behavior is actually a sign of dental pain or mouth ulcers making it hard to chew. Has anyone in Karachi dealt with this habit, and how did you get your cat back to eating solid food?