I have a greyhound who has a habit of sometimes grinding his teeth when he goes to sleep. He never does it once hes asleep, just when he's going to sleep, and its only sometimes. When he does do it, I get his attention for a moment to stop it. Sometimes I have to do this 3 or 4 times before he'll stop and go to sleep. I was wondering if anyone could tell me why he may be doing this, and is it harmful to his teeth to let him do it. I'd probably stop him even if it isnt harmful simply because the sound is very annoying. So far I havent been able to see any pattern to when he does it. He's around 2 yrs old and was a rescue from the Humane Society. Hes been to the vets and everything looks good in his mouth and with his teeth. Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.

Grinding can be a sign of malocclusion. Either the teeth themselves are not properly alined, or there's a problem with the jaw itself. Sometimes it's a problem with the ears, and the grinding is helping to alleviate pain deep in the ear. I'd probably ask my vet to investigate further; dental and jaw x-rays to check for hidden problems, old fractures, that sort of thing.

Or it could be a comfort thing; like sucking your thumb.

I'd continue trying to make him stop, as grinding the teeth can cause them to wear down.

Thanks vetgroomer. I have a feeling it may be a comfort thing with him, but I'll have him checked soon to make sure its nothing else.

Now I've never heard of a dog grinding teeth, and I really don't know much about this specific problem-- in dogs, that is.

But... I work in a youth crisis center, graveyard shift. I watch teenagers sleep, and take notes on their sleeping habits/behaviors for their therapists and other caregivers. Teeth grinding during sleep is a very common problem in human youth, and yes, it is harmful, as it wears the enamel, thus promoting tooth decay, and can also cause TMJ headaches. Teeth grinding is also a common manifestation of stress. I suspect the same can be said for dogs.

For humans, we can purchase an inexpensive plastic mouth guard at the pharmacy, over the counter, just like bandaids and other stuff. This helps to realign the jaw and prevent grinding, or at least cushion the teeth to protect the enamel from scraping away. Ask your vet if something similar can be fashioned for your dog.

Originally Posted by Mydogiscute

For humans, we can purchase an inexpensive plastic mouth guard at the pharmacy, over the counter, just like bandaids and other stuff. This helps to realign the jaw and prevent grinding, or at least cushion the teeth to protect the enamel from scraping away. Ask your vet if something similar can be fashioned for your dog.

I suspect the dog would just think it's another toy. People understand why they're wearing a mouth guard, but dogs can't. Put something plastic in their mouth, and they're going to chew it.