Overview
Bruxism (BRUK-siz-um) is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth when you're awake (awake bruxism) or clench or grind them during sleep (sleep bruxism).
Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. People who clench or grind their teeth (brux) during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea).
Mild bruxism may not require treatment. However, in some people, bruxism can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.
Because you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:
- Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner
- Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
- Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won't open or close completely
- Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness
- Pain that feels like an earache, though it's actually not a problem with your ear
- Dull headache starting in the temples
- Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
- Sleep disruption
When to see a doctor
See your dentist or doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above or have other concerns about your teeth or jaw.
If you notice that your child is grinding his or her teeth — or has other signs or symptoms of bruxism — be sure to mention it at your child's next dental appointment.
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Causes
Doctors don't completely understand what causes bruxism, but it may be due to a combination of physical, psychological and genetic factors.
- Awake bruxism may be due to emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration or tension. Or it may be a coping strategy or a habit during deep concentration.
- Sleep bruxism may be a sleep-related chewing activity associated with arousals during sleep.
Risk factors
These factors increase your risk of bruxism:
- Stress. Increased anxiety or stress can lead to teeth grinding. So can anger and frustration.
- Age. Bruxism is common in young children, but it usually goes away by adulthood.
- Personality type. Having a personality type that's aggressive, competitive or hyperactive can increase your risk of bruxism.
- Medications and other substances. Bruxism may be an uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, such as certain antidepressants. Smoking tobacco, drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol, or using recreational drugs may increase the risk of bruxism.
- Family members with bruxism. Sleep bruxism tends to occur in families. If you have bruxism, other members of your family also may have bruxism or a history of it.
- Other disorders. Bruxism can be associated with some mental health and medical disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Complications
In most cases, bruxism doesn't cause serious complications. But severe bruxism may lead to:
- Damage to your teeth, restorations, crowns or jaw
- Tension-type headaches
- Severe facial or jaw pain
- Disorders that occur in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located just in front of your ears, which may sound like clicking when you open and close your mouth
Aug. 10, 2017
FAQs
Bruxism is when you clench, grind or gnash your teeth. It usually happens subconsciously, either during waking hours or when you're asleep. Causes include stress, anxiety, sleep disorders and certain medications. Most people who grind their teeth can ease symptoms with a custom mouth guard.
What are 3 common causes of bruxism? ›
Causes
- Psychosocial factors: Stress, mood, distress, nervousness, and “feeling blue.”
- A person's genes.
- Consuming alcohol or caffeine.
- Smoking.
- Medications: Certain medicines used to treat depression, seizures, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the chances of having bruxism.
Bruxism can be associated with some mental health and medical disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
What is a severe case of teeth grinding? ›
See a dentist if:
you grind your teeth and have tooth damage or sensitive teeth. you grind your teeth and have pain in your jaw, face or ear. your partner says you're grinding your teeth in your sleep. you're worried about your child grinding their teeth.
What is the difference between grinding and bruxism? ›
Bruxism is clenching, grinding, or gnashing your teeth, either while you're awake or asleep. Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time. Occasional teeth grinding doesn't usually cause harm, but when it happens regularly, you can damage your teeth.
How I cured my bruxism? ›
The most successful and proven bruxism cure is to invest in a bruxism mouthguard. We'll cover that more in a minute. But others believe that it can also be cured by finding ways to relieve the pent-up stress by way of exerting more energy. That includes exercise, yoga, meditation, and so forth.
What age is bruxism most common? ›
Children who brux usually begin at 4-8 years of age, the numbers increase between 10‑14 years of age and then start declining after age 14.
What vitamin deficiencies cause teeth grinding? ›
Sleep bruxism was associated with vitamin D deficiency and low consumption of calcium and was also associated with increased scores of anxiety and depression. Further investigations should be performed to check if vitamin D and calcium supplementation could relieve sleep bruxism.
What nutrient deficiency causes teeth grinding? ›
Recent evidence has unveiled a strong association between bruxism, particularly sleep bruxism (central), and vit. D deficiency. Alkhatatbeh et al (97) showed that there is a significant link between vit. D deficiency and sleep bruxism, with 60% of bruxism patients exhibiting low levels of vit.
What is the root cause of teeth grinding? ›
What causes bruxism? Oral health specialists often point to too much stress and certain personality types as causes of bruxism. Bruxism often affects people with nervous tension, such as anger, pain, or frustration. It also affects people with aggressive, hurried, or overly competitive tendencies.
Left untreated, teeth grinding can lead to: Sleep disorders. Dental damage like tooth erosion, and loose or cracked teeth. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
What does a bruxism headache feel like? ›
What kind of headache does bruxism cause? Tension headaches often result from bruxism and can continue for hours or even days. Tension headaches feel like a steady, dull aching or pressure on both sides of the head.
Where is a bruxism headache located? ›
Headaches are one of the many common symptoms of bruxism. Temple or behind-the-eye headaches are one of the many common symptoms of bruxism since it strains the temple muscles. People who unknowingly grind their teeth are three times more likely to develop TMJ-related bruxism.
Which medication may lead to bruxism? ›
Bruxism may develop as an adverse reaction to antidepressant therapy, and is most likely to develop within 2–3 weeks of medication introduction or dose titration. This phenomenon may be seen in a variety of serotonergic antidepressants, and may be most associated with fluoxetine, sertraline, or venlafaxine.
When should I be worried about grinding my teeth? ›
If you suspect you are suffering from bruxism, there are several signs to look out for: Tight or sore jaw muscles. Flattened teeth. Cracked, chipped, or loose teeth.
How do I stop grinding my teeth at night without a mouth guard? ›
9 Home Remedies to Treat Teeth Grinding
- Jaw Stretching Exercise. ...
- Hot Towel Compresses. ...
- Relaxation Techniques. ...
- Stay Hydrated. ...
- Avoid Stimulating Substances in the Evening. ...
- Eat Magnesium-Rich Foods. ...
- Drink Turmeric Milk or Herbal Tea. ...
- Avoid Hard Foods.
The study showed that habitual coffee consumption is a risk factor for the increased intensity of sleep bruxism. Neither coffee nor tea consumption is related to sleep fragmentation in habitual drinkers. Coffee and tea intake does not affect electrolyte and lipid concentrations.
When should I be concerned about bruxism? ›
Some signs to watch for: grinding noises when your child is sleeping. complaints of a sore jaw or face after waking up in the morning. pain with chewing.
What happens if bruxism is left untreated? ›
If bruxism goes untreated, it may lead to jaw muscle and joint problems. These are known as TMJ problems or TMD (temporomandibular disorder). You could even lose your teeth.
