Teeth clenching around cats

I clench/grind my teeth at night and it gets particularly worse when I do it during the day around my cats. I do it even just looking at them because I love them so much, and get an urge to kiss and hug them really tight, I think like mothers do with their babies. I do it unconsciously so I don't hurt them. I think I'm going to end up ruining my teeth.

Does anyone else do this?

I clench my teeth, but not because of my cat.

Long time teeth clencher here. I do it mostly in my sleep but I do catch myself doing it throughout the day sometimes. Its been recommended for me to get a bite plate to sleep with but I don't have the $400 for it. It has weakened my teeth a little, causing a crack under the enamel on one tooth. It's weird. It's also caused TMJ. 

My husband clenches while driving :lol3: and the dentist suggested getting a cheap bite block from the sporting goods section. Maybe you can look into something like hat?

I've heard the same thing.

I also clench my teeth from time to time--apparently nail biting can make you more prone to clenching your teeth, especially in your sleep. And I've always chewed my nails (usual reasons aside, I have some nerve damage in one of my fingers that makes using nail clippers very uncomfortable). Before I knew that nail biting could be related, my teeth clenching problem was very bad--I used to wake up some nights because I was clenching my teeth so hard it was hurting my jaw. I was so sore-mouthed in the mornings (and so tired) I ended up asking for help with it, and I received the same recommendation as AbbysMom's hubby. I'd probably have gone that route, if I hadn't learned that chewing my nails was to blame.

I started clenching my teeth in my sleep about 3 years ago - but not because of my cats. It was during a very stressful time. My dentist just brushed away my concerns and jaw pain. One night my clenching took its tool and split a healthy  molar in half. So... after 13 months, more than $6,000, 3 surgeries, and a whole load of pain later, I have a replacement implant. I do not recommend this experience.

Please invest $40 in an over-the-counter night guard asap. You might also want to explore why your cats seem to make you stressed.

Meww said:

I clench/grind my teeth at night and it gets particularly worse when I do it during the day around my cats. I do it even just looking at them because I love them so much, and get an urge to kiss and hug them really tight, I think like mothers do with their babies. I do it unconsciously so I don't hurt them. I think I'm going to end up ruining my teeth.

Does anyone else do this?

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OMG!  I do it, too!  Not all the time, but sometimes I am overwhelmed by their cuteness and find myself clenching my teeth.  I thought I was the only one. 

SwampWitch - sorry to hear about your experience. I've been sleeping with a cheap mouth guard for months now and it stops me worrying about my teeth although I'm on my third one because I ground holes in the other two.

 One thing that I have found to lessen the clenching is doing jaw exercises in the day and before I go to sleep. I really recommend it if you are having trouble with jaw clenching and haven't tried already:  http://www.chiropractic-help.com/tmj-exercises.html

I've just realised I've been clenching my jaw typing this because my cat is on my lap and the other is staring at me and they are so cute. 

Count me in with the mouth guard. I had been able to stop using it for quite a while, but with everything going on last fall, I have to start using it again. Just had a dentist appt last week and the x-rays show that I'm really clenching and grinding again.....the x-rays show that the little spaces between the roots are expanding; that's a sure sign that teeth clenching and grinding are going on. So I've started to wear the guard again.

It doesn't help that I was taking Fosamax a few years ago for osteopenia. The second week I was taking it, I got this terrible, terrible sharp pain in my right jaw.....went to the dentist and he thinks it was because of the Fosamax. After another week or so, I ended up in the ER with a suspected heart attack (which was just really bad indigestion, again from the Fosamax), I quit taking the stuff. Wicked stuff it is. Some of those bone-building drugs can do damage to the jawbone.

Anyway, I have TMJ, too.

Thanks for the jaw exercises link, Meww.....will check it out. Swamp Witch, I'm really sorry about your molar. My dentist didn't brush anything off; he was quite concerned, thank goodness, and said that a football-type guard would work fine and it does.....when I wear it.

I'm a clencher due to kitty cuteness too. They're just so cute, especially kittens. I usually ask Penny: "Penny, can I hold you and squeeze you? Why can't I hold you and squeeze you? Why? Hrm-hrm-hrm." The hrm part is where I laugh and clench. This is practically daily with me.

Gosh, I even clench sometimes at a kitten on TV.  There's this one youtube video that could probably cause me to break a tooth.  Somebody says something like "peek-a-boo" and the kitten puts its paws out and shows his face.  I can't get to him and it drives me crazy.  Also, the cats/kittens at PetSmart cause the same reaction.  There they are behind the glass, I see them from across the store...and that's all she wrote.  Sometimes I even ball my little fists up...not because I want to hit someone (goodness, no) but another involuntary cuteness reaction.

This is soooo funny!!! I do that too, BIG TIME!! I worship my cats and clench really badly all the time....

I'm a clencher anyway - stress, nervousness etc. all makes me clench (I hate it!!) and I do have a bite guard for at night (from my dentist). Don't always wear it,though-probably should!

How good to know that I'm not the only one!!! I think my sister does it, too :-)))))))

I can't believe I've missed this thread.. so so hilarious and true!!  I find my cats so awesome, I think I would eat them if I could, from LOVE!!  

David, literally, smells faintly like yellow cake.  His fur.  I am not kidding.  I have no idea why.  Why would God make a cat smell like CAKE of all things? I don't get it.  

Lilly's fur does not smell like cake.  But she still smells good/not bad, very nice.  Clean.

(As an aside, I do grind my teeth at night I have been told, but not from the kittenz)

Funny - I always say my Minkus smells like cookies or something - he smells WONDERFUL!!! I always bury my head in his fur.....Hubby claims they have "body odour" - when I asked him what he meant he said "Well ,they smell like saliva, don't they??". Burst out laughing at that!!!!

David's Steph said:

I can't believe I've missed this thread.. so so hilarious and true!!  I find my cats so awesome, I think I would eat them if I could, from LOVE!!  

David, literally, smells faintly like yellow cake.  His fur.  I am not kidding.  I have no idea why.  Why would God make a cat smell like CAKE of all things? I don't get it.  

Lilly's fur does not smell like cake.  But she still smells good/not bad, very nice.  Clean.

(As an aside, I do grind my teeth at night I have been told, but not from the kittenz)

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So I'm not crazy after all...? I think my cat Grover smells like a box of muffins lol. I don't even bake. It must've been his natural goodness all along.

Seriously though, he does have a nice sweet smell that I can't explain. Maybe a little of my shampoo scent from sleeping in bed with me. I don't know.

No. I find being around my cats one of the most relaxing things.
 

Natalie_ca said:

No. I find being around my cats one of the most relaxing things.
 

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Same here.  I guess that I may clench my teeth when the kitten is being naughty, like knocking things over and antagonizing her big sister and the opossum...

that is so funny I do it all the time. I love my cats so much I clench my teeth so I don't hug them too tight

victoria19 said:

that is so funny I do it all the time. I love my cats so much I clench my teeth so I don't hug them too tight <3 ... Not sure if I clench my teeth at night...

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Welcome to TCS. I invite you to introduce yourself and your cats in New Cats on the Block. Be sure to post pictures of all your cats. I guess I have a more mellow relationship with my ladies. When they want attention, I give it to them. If I tried hugging them tight, they would object strenuously, using all four feet to get away.

I clench my teeth, but I guess it must not be that bad because I keep forgetting to mention it to my dentist and my dentist has never mentioned it to me.  I haven't really paid attention to whether I do it with my cat or not.  I know I've been doing it a lot while reading this thread, as my jaw is quite sore now.  Go figure!  Interestingly, I do also chew my nails, mostly to keep them short because I don't like clipping them with clippers.  I keep meaning to let them grow out *a little* so I can try out this French manicure set I got, but I always end up chewing them before they get long enough.

I will look into getting a guard and the page with exercises.  Looks interesting and could be helpful!

On a side note, I thought you were going to talk about your cat clenching his/her teeth.  My cat does this weird teeth clicking thing when she sees birds outside.  It's so cute and adorable!