How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth: Medications, At-Home Remedies, Natural Treatments, and More

Teeth grinding (bruxism) is when you repetitively clench or grind your teeth. It can happen while you’re awake or asleep, and often people don’t even know they’re doing it. While often harmless, there can be some long-term effects from teeth grinding, such as pain, tooth problems, and disturbed sleep. 

When teeth grinding leads to other problems, it’s time to consider treatment, such as mouthguards, behavioral changes, or medication. Let’s take a closer look at what causes teeth grinding and what you can do about it.

What is teeth grinding?

Teeth grinding is repeatedly grinding teeth or clenching the jaw. Some people may have very minor symptoms (or no symptoms at all), while others may have many side effects such as pain or dental complications. 

Bruxism may occur while you are awake during the day (awake bruxism), or you may not even realize you’re doing it while you’re sleeping (sleep bruxism). Awake bruxism is more common, and it occurs in about 20% of people. Sleep bruxism occurs in less than 10% of the population.

What causes teeth grinding?

There are a range of reasons for teeth grinding. And the exact reasons can be hard to figure out. Usually it’s related to: 

• Stress or anxiety

• Genetics

• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea

• Medication side effects, such as antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) or venlafaxine (Effexor)

• Substance use (including alcohol and caffeine)

• Nutritional factors (such as low levels of vitamin D, magnesium, or calcium)

Do I need treatment for teeth grinding?

Treatment needs will depend on a few factors. For example, you might only grind your teeth from time to time. And it may not cause any symptoms or issues for you. If that’s the case, you don’t need treatment. But treatment can help if you have symptoms or other complications from teeth grinding like facial pain, tooth damage, or sleep disturbance. 

There are different types of treatments for teeth grinding. Depending on your specific symptoms, you may be able to treat your teeth grinding at home with behavioral or lifestyle changes (more on this below). If you’re still having issues, the next steps might include a mouthguard or medication. Your dentist or another healthcare professional can help you decide what treatment is best for you.

What if I don’t treat teeth grinding?

If teeth grinding is mild, it may not cause any problems. But sometimes teeth grinding can cause long-term complications. This could include:

• Dental problems, including chipped teeth or damaged enamel

• Sensitive teeth 

• Chronic headaches

• Ear pain

• Jaw pain or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

• Sleep disturbances

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Medications for teeth grinding

If you have a severe case of bruxism, you may need medication to help treat it. There are different medication options, but none are very effective. And like all medications, they have risks and side effects. 

Medications you and your care team may consider include:

• Some muscle relaxants 

• Some anxiety medications

• Hormone therapy may improve bruxism in people experiencing menopause and sleep disturbance

• Botox can paralyze the muscles that cause jaw clenching

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How can I stop teeth grinding naturally?

There may be some steps you can take at home to help avoid problems related to grinding your teeth. Here are some natural ways to ease or prevent teeth grinding and its related complications:

• Avoid chewing gum. Chewing gum keeps your jaw muscles active and may reinforce clenching habits. Giving your jaw more time to rest during the day could reduce tension and nighttime grinding.

• Avoid chewy or hard foods. Tough foods like bagels or popcorn can overwork your jaw muscles. Choosing softer meals helps ease strain and gives sore muscles time to recover.

• Try to relax your jaw and face muscles. If you notice your jaw clenching during the day, gently open your mouth or massage your temples. This can help reset your jaw into a more relaxed position.

• Work on managing stress. Stress is a major trigger for teeth grinding. Practices like deep breathing, yoga, or even taking short breaks can reduce muscle tension and help you unwind.

• See a dentist for routine dental care. Your dentist can check for signs of grinding, recommend a night guard, or offer other strategies to prevent long-term damage.

• Have good sleep habits and sleep hygiene. Teeth grinding often happens during sleep, so better sleep hygiene can help. Try to keep a consistent bedtime, avoid screens late at night, and create a quiet, dark sleeping space.

• Use a warm compress. Applying a warm towel to your jaw before bed may loosen tight muscles and make nighttime clenching less likely.

• Practice good posture. Slouching — especially while sitting at a desk — can throw off jaw alignment. Standing and sitting up straight can reduce tension in your jaw and neck.

• Limit alcohol and caffeine. Both alcohol and caffeine can disrupt sleep and make grinding worse. Cutting back on these, especially in the evening, may help improve teeth grinding.

Do oral devices help with teeth grinding?

A dentist can help fit an oral device to protect the upper or lower teeth from damage from teeth grinding. An oral device may not stop the bruxism from happening, but it can help prevent complications. There are different types of oral devices, and most commonly people will use an “occlusive splint,” which is placed over the teeth for protection. 

When should I see a doctor or dentist about teeth grinding?

If you’re concerned you may be grinding your teeth, it’s a good idea to discuss this with a healthcare professional or dentist. If your teeth grinding is causing symptoms or beginning to interfere with your life, it’s time to make that appointment to talk about the next steps. If you have underlying anxiety or stress, it’s also a good idea to discuss treatment strategies with your healthcare team — treating underlying anxiety will also help treat bruxism.

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Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a focus on chronic care management, women’s health, and mental health. She’s the co-author of “Open Heart: When Open-Heart Surgery Becomes Your Best Option.”.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Farzon Nahvi, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and teaches at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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