Bruxism

Basic Facts

  • Bruxism is also known as teeth grinding. A person unconsciously grinds, gnashes, or clenches their teeth. 
  • Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep related movement disorder

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

 

 

Healthcare providers 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.

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).
In addition to taking a detailed medical history, listening to the patient describe symptoms, and conducting a physical examination, the healthcare provider may also recommend a sleep study to help with the diagnosis.

Focusing on improving your sleep hygiene can help. 

Your dentist may also provide you with an oral device to protect the teeth.