Mary Allen
Cat grinding its teeth, also known as bruxism, is a common but troubling behavior in your cat. One of the main reasons bruxism is of concern is the fact that it can be caused by a number of different causes, ranging from anxiety to serious medical conditions. At the very least, teeth grinding wears down your cat’s teeth and can damage the temporomandibular joint, which can cause problems later in life. So why does the cat grind its teeth? And what can you do to stop your cat from grinding its teeth?
WHY DOES A CAT GRIND ITS TEETH?
The root of the behavior Bruxism is defined as the rubbing of a cat’s upper and lower teeth together. One of the most common causes is the teeth. It is often an oral cavity that is bothering your cat.
Other major dental problems such as B. tooth resorption, can trigger bruxism. Tooth resorption is the loss of dentin around one or more teeth. This affects over 75% of cats over the age of five. Other factors include gum problems and ulcers. Another reason your cat may grind its teeth is because of crooked teeth. Misaligned teeth create friction between a cat’s teeth, which can lead to grinding. Purebred cats like Persian cats with their small teeth are particularly prone to misaligned teeth.
Psychological causes can also trigger bruxism, but this is rare. The same applies to people. Cats are known to grind their teeth when they have ailments ranging from pancreatitis to gastrointestinal ulcers to cancer, making bruxism difficult to identify early.
If you notice your cat grinding its teeth, drooling, or losing its appetite, you should take them to the doctor right away to rule out anything more serious. You should definitely see your veterinarian avoid future dental or health complications.
HOW CAN I BEST DETERMINE IF MY CAT’S TEETH ACHES?
- Drooling/Dribbling
- Strong aversion to food or fussy about food selection
- Dropping small pieces of food while eating
- bad breath weight loss
- They rub their faces with their front paws.
- not cleaning yourself enough
- They are quieter than usual and rest a lot
If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, you should see your veterinarian. A cat can show all of these signs or just one of them. They can also be a sign of other problems besides mouth discomfort.
It’s important to remember that teeth grinding can be caused by discomfort in a part of the body other than the mouth. So if your cat is grinding its teeth but is not exhibiting any of the other symptoms outlined above, you should take them to your vet for a check-up as there may be something wrong that needs attention.
WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MY CAT TO THE DOCTOR FOR GRINDING TEETH?
As soon as you notice that your cat is grinding its teeth, you should take it to your veterinarian for a check-up. Even if it’s not an emergency, it’s still necessary because your cat is most likely suffering from some discomfort.
First, your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet. In this way, he can determine whether the pain is caused by an oral disease or by another cause. If the situation is still unclear after the examination, your veterinarian may recommend further examinations, e.g. blood tests or scans, to further clarify the situation.
Once a cause for the discomfort has been identified, it must be eliminated or minimized. Therapy options include medication you can take home with you or surgical treatment, such as a surgical procedure. B. Extracting a sore tooth under anesthesia. The use of modern anesthetics poses no risk to healthy cats. You will be informed in advance if your cat has any medical conditions that could affect the safety of the anesthesia administered by your veterinarian.
If your cat grinds its teeth in its sleep, it may not be aware of it and it may not be associated with pain. Still, you should have your cat checked by your veterinarian to rule out discomfort as a cause.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND FACTORS TO CONSIDER
If you’re not sure what’s causing your cat’s teeth grinding, make sure she’s happy in her environment so you can rule out stress and worry as possible culprits. Make sure your cat has access to a quiet, low-traffic area to retreat to when overexcited. Also, make sure your cat has a quiet place to use the litter box and that their food and drink are kept in separate rooms. Frequent play with your pet and lots of affection can also help reduce stress levels (both in you and your cat!).