Teeth grinding might be something you don’t immediately see in your dog. Teeth grinding can be an important indicator of underlying issues in your dog’s health or a sign of stress. If you’ve noticed your dog exhibiting this behavior, you might be wondering, “Why do dogs grind their teeth?” Here’s what you need to know:

What is Teeth Grinding?

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, occurs when the jaw is tightly clenched and moves slightly, consciously or subconsciously, which causes the teeth to grind against each other. This behavior is often seen in humans, but some dogs exhibit it, too. While some teeth grinding seems harmless, it may lead to issues further down the road.

4 Reasons Dogs Grind Their Teeth

If a dog grinds their teeth, it can be hard to pinpoint why. These are a few reasons why dogs grind their teeth:

1. Oral Pain

If your dog is experiencing any oral pain, grinding their teeth may be one of the signs your dog is in pain. Since dogs can’t express pain like humans, dogs tend to act as if nothing is wrong. This behavior is their innate survival instinct kicking in and may be a sign of oral pain in your dog.

Oral pain may be caused by a variety of issues, including fractured teeth, infections of the mouth, gum disease, teeth rotting, or oral tumors. Gum disease is a common health problem in dogs so be sure to have a good oral routine for your dog in place.

Teeth grinding is common in puppy teething. You can help combat teeth grinding during puppy teething by soothing your puppy’s sore gums with cold cloths, cold chew toys designed for teething puppies, and more. Because this is temporary, most puppies will stop teeth grinding once adult teeth develop.

2. Gastrointestinal Discomfort

If a dog has any gastrointestinal pain or discomfort, they may deal with the pain by grinding their teeth. Gritting their teeth to “grin and bear it” can be a common way for dogs to distract themselves from the pain and get through it.

3. Malocclusion

Malocclusions occur if any misaligned teeth keep the dog’s mouth from closing evenly. This is similar to an overbite in humans. When a malocclusion occurs, teeth grinding is often unavoidable since it’s part of how the mouth closes.

4. Anxiety or Stress

Anxiety, like separation anxiety or other stress, tends to be the biggest cause of teeth grinding in humans. While it is a less common reaction in dogs, it can still be why dogs grind their teeth. This reason for teeth grinding tends to happen when a dog is asleep.

Can Teeth Grinding Be Harmful?

If your dog only grinds their teeth infrequently, it may seem harmless. But, if teeth grinding continues, it can lead to damage to the tooth and the enamel. If the enamel is worn down too much, the pulp underneath the enamel can be exposed, leading to infections.

What to Do When Dogs Grind Their Teeth

If you see signs of your dog grinding their teeth, contact your veterinarian. Your vet will examine your dog’s teeth and try to find a reason for the behavior. Lab tests and imaging may be ordered to further look at your dog’s overall health and show any underlying conditions.

Based on what the exam shows, a separate dental examination and cleaning might be necessary to see how extensive the damage is and decide on treatment. Dental radiographs may be necessary in order to get the best look at the teeth.

If no health problems are found to be causing your dog to grind their teeth, it may be caused by stress or anxiety. Changes in the dog’s environment, behavior training, as well as medications may help manage your dog’s anxiety and stop teeth grinding.

Why do dogs grind their teeth? Similar to humans, it can be a result of pain, stress, etc. This is an overview of why dogs grind their teeth. If you notice this behavior, schedule an appointment with your vet to determine the cause and get your dog some relief!