Dogs sometimes paw at the mouth, rub their face along the floor or furniture, or seem irritated around the muzzle when something in the mouth is painful or inflamed. In some cases this behaviour is brief and minor. In others, it is one of the clearest signs that dental disease or another oral problem is present.
When this happens repeatedly, it is worth considering whether the mouth itself may be the source of discomfort.
Dogs may paw at the mouth when a tooth is painful, the gums are inflamed, something is stuck in the mouth, or there is irritation affecting the lips, tongue, or other oral tissues.
Common causes include dental disease, fractured teeth, infection, gum inflammation, tartar buildup, oral injury, or foreign material lodged around the teeth or gums. Some dogs may also paw at the face if there is swelling, a painful tooth root, or another problem deeper in the mouth.
Pawing at the mouth is usually not random behaviour. In many cases, it is a dog’s way of responding to discomfort they cannot remove or explain any other way.
Some dogs do it intermittently and otherwise seem normal. Others may also have bad breath, chewing changes, drooling, reluctance to eat, visible tartar, or sensitivity when the mouth or face is touched.
A dog pawing at the mouth may also rub the face on carpet or furniture, chew on one side, avoid hard food, drop food, drool more than usual, or pull away when the mouth is examined.
Some dogs continue eating despite significant dental pain, especially if the problem has developed gradually. That means the absence of obvious appetite loss does not rule out an oral problem.
One of the most common causes is dental disease affecting the gums and supporting tissues around the teeth. A fractured tooth, infected tooth root, or object trapped in the mouth can also cause sudden discomfort and repeated pawing.
In some cases, the problem may be relatively minor. In others, there may already be significant pain or infection that requires prompt treatment. The only way to know which is more likely is to assess the mouth properly.
If your dog is repeatedly pawing at the mouth, rubbing the face, or showing any other sign of oral discomfort, a dental assessment is a sensible next step.
This is especially important if the behaviour is new, getting worse, or accompanied by bad breath, drooling, chewing changes, visible damage to a tooth, bleeding, or reluctance to eat.
An initial assessment involves examining the mouth as far as your dog will comfortably allow while awake. This may reveal tartar, inflamed gums, obvious dental damage, or signs that a more significant problem is present.
If pain or deeper disease is suspected, a professional dental procedure under anaesthetic may be recommended. This allows the mouth to be examined properly, the teeth to be cleaned where appropriate, and dental x-rays to be taken if hidden root disease, fractures, or other problems are suspected.
Pawing at the mouth deserves more urgent assessment if your dog is also crying out, refusing food, drooling heavily, bleeding from the mouth, showing facial swelling, or appears distressed when trying to eat.
These signs may suggest a more painful or advanced oral problem.
If your dog is pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face and you are concerned something may be wrong, we can help assess whether dental disease, a damaged tooth, or another oral problem may be involved.
Learn why bad breath in dogs often points to dental disease, gum inflammation, or hidden oral pain.
Learn why dogs and cats may chew on one side of the mouth when a tooth, gum, or other part of the mouth has become painful.
Learn how dental x-rays help identify hidden infection, fractures, root disease, and other painful conditions below the gumline.
