Cat Teeth Grinding: Cause And Solutions

Do you know what cat teeth grinding is? It’s a condition that affects millions of cats every year. Unfortunately, many owners are not even aware that their cats are grinding their teeth until it’s too late. 

In this blog post, we will discuss the causes and solutions for cat teeth grinding. We will also provide some helpful tips for owners who want to help reduce their cat’s risk of developing this condition.

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Let’s get started!

What Is Cat Teeth Grinding?

Cat teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition that affects cats of all ages. It occurs when the cat grinds their teeth together involuntarily, often causing a lot of pain and discomfort. 

In many cases, cat teeth grinding is caused by stress or anxiety. However, there are several other factors that can contribute to this condition as well.

5 Causes Of Cat Teeth Grinding Explained!

Sometimes the things that cats do are so cute and adorable but sometimes they can be a little bit odd. Cat teeth grinding is one such activity that some pet owners have witnessed in their felines. It sounds weird, right?

I mean who would think of a cat with grinding teeth? Why would it even want to do it? Well, today we are going to have a look at the different causes of cat teeth grinding and possible remedies.

Pain In The Oral Cavity

If your cat is experiencing discomfort or pain inside its mouth then you can expect it to grind its teeth as a way of relieving itself from that pain. There are a number of reasons why your cat might be feeling pain in its oral cavity.

It could be due to gum disease, tooth decay, or even an infection. There are many things to consider in this regard:

Does your cat have a good diet?

Is it getting enough water?

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Is it brushing its teeth regularly? If not, then all of those things could be contributing to the pain that your cat is feeling in its mouth.

If you think that one of these might be the cause of your cat’s tooth grinding, then you should take it to the vet for a check-up. There might be something that can be done to ease the pain and stop the grinding.

Dental Disease

Dental disease can be a cause of tooth grinding in cats. It could be something like gingivitis, periodontal disease, or tartar build-up. All of these things will make your cat’s mouth hurt, and it might start to grind its teeth in order to relieve the pain that it is feeling.

There are some considerations that need to be made for this cause. If you think that your cat may have dental disease, then it is best to take them to the vet and get an examination done on their teeth. 

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They will probably provide a treatment plan that you can use in order to solve the problem and make sure that your cat’s mouth is pain-free again.

Dental disease is one of the most common causes of teeth grinding. That’s because many pets don’t get their teeth cleaned regularly, and they end up with a number of problems in their mouth that can cause them pain.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Cat teeth grinding can also be a sign of gastrointestinal disorders. The most common cause is IBD or inflammatory bowel disease. Both symptoms, vomiting, and diarrhea have the potential to worsen oral health due to lack of appetite as well as malabsorption in the intestines.

Inflammatory conditions that affect other parts of the digestive tract can also increase the risk of oral health problems.

If you are concerned about any gastrointestinal issues that may cause your cat to grind their teeth, then it is best advised to take them for a vet checkup. 

Your vet will perform all necessary examinations and tests required in order to diagnose the problem with more accuracy. The sooner you do this, the better it will be for your cat’s health!

Jaw Pain

If your cat is experiencing jaw pain, you may notice that she’s grinding her teeth or chewing on one side of her mouth. This can be caused by a number of factors including dental disease, an abscessed tooth, and gum infections. If left untreated these conditions can lead to tooth loss as well as other health issues such as kidney and liver disease.

Moreover, if your cat has been in a fight or suffered some other type of trauma to her jaw, she may start grinding her teeth as a way of coping with the pain. This is especially common in cats who have experienced an injury to their head or neck.

Stress And Anxiety

One of the most common causes of teeth grinding in cats is stress. Cats can become stressed for a number of reasons, including changes in their environment (such as moving to a new home), changes in their routine, or during stressful events like car rides or visits to the vet.

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If your cat seems to grind her teeth more when she’s stressed, try to figure out what the source of her stress is and remove it if possible. 

If your cat grinds her teeth due to fear or anxiety, you may need to consult with a veterinarian about using an anti-anxiety medication for cats.

What Are the Solutions For Cat Teeth Grinding?

There are a few solutions that can help stop or prevent cat teeth grinding. 

Know The Cause First

One solution is to try and figure out what is causing the grinding in the first place. If it’s stress, then you might need to find ways to reduce your cat’s stress levels. This could mean adding more playtime and toys, providing a comfortable place for them to rest, or even getting them a companion cat.

Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment And Treatment (COHAT)

If the grinding is due to an oral health issue, then you’ll need to take your cat to the vet so they can get treatment. This might include antibiotics if there is an infection, dental work if there are cavities or other issues with the teeth, and so on.

Moreover, you may also need to go for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT). This will help your vet to examine your cat’s teeth, gums and mouth. They may also need to take x-rays of the skull, so they can check for any oral health problems that could be causing the grinding.

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If it’s due to a medical problem, then this will need to be treated by your vet too. For example, if there is an injury or tumor in the mouth causing pain then they may prescribe medication for that condition. The sooner you take them in though (as soon as you notice symptoms) the better chance you have of stopping the grinding and preventing further damage.

Other Solutions

If none of these solutions work, then there are other things you can try like giving your cat melatonin supplements or getting them teeth cleaning chews from pet stores (some people recommend this but it’s not scientifically proven). You could also consider having their teeth professionally cleaned by a vet, but this can be expensive.

Hopefully one of these solutions will work for your cat and they won’t have to grind their teeth anymore!

Wrapping Up

It is important to understand the cause of teeth grinding in cats. This blog post has presented some possible causes and solutions for your cat’s dental issues. We wish your cat a quicker recovery!