What Causes Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

It’s not unusual for you to clench your jaw when you’re feeling tense. Maybe you get lost in concentration sometimes and realize you’ve been clamping down on your teeth the whole time. Grinding your teeth occasionally is common. But if you do it regularly, you may have a medical condition called bruxism. About 1 in 10 adults experience bruxism. 

Here we’ll cover common causes, how to tell if you have it, and when to seek care. 

Why do people grind their teeth? 

If you grind your teeth while awake or asleep, the action is the same, but the two versions of teeth-grinding are considered separate conditions. We don’t know exactly what causes bruxism, but we do know that awake and sleep bruxism are associated with different triggers.

Awake bruxism is usually caused by: 

• Strong emotion — most commonly stress, anxiety, or anger

• Deep concentration

Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep movement disorder. Just like sleep-walking and sleep-talking, most of the time teeth grinding happens during the non-dreaming stages of sleep. You are more likely to have sleep bruxism if you: 

• Have abnormal teeth or a crooked bite

• Have an underlying sleep disorder (like obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA)

• Drink alcohol or caffeine regularly

• Smoke cigarettes

• Have a high-stress lifestyle or experience anxiety — in fact, there are some reports that rates of bruxism have increased during the Covid 19 pandemic, which is probably because more people are feeling stress. 

How do I know if I’m grinding my teeth? 

Common symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Jaw pain

• Headaches

• Chipped or cracked teeth

• Damage to the inside of the cheeks

• Popping or clicking of the jaw (known as your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ)

• Overly sensitive teeth

What can I do to stop grinding my teeth? 

If you have been grinding your teeth for a while, there are treatments that can help. Common treatments include:

• Getting a mouth guard: This is the most common treatment for teeth grinding. However, while a mouth guard can help prevent damage to your teeth, it might not stop the bruxism. 

• Biofeedback: This is primarily used to treat awake bruxism. This is a technique that teaches a person to control their jaw muscles by giving visual or sound feedback to help them know they when they are clenching their teeth.

• Behavioral changes: There are techniques that can help relax the jaw — if you practice touching the tongue to the roof of your mouth to create a more relaxed position, this may help you stop grinding your teeth. 

• Muscle relaxants: The most common muscle relaxants used for this are cyclobenzaprine and diazepam (Valium).

• Medications to help treat anxiety or stress

• Botox injections: These are usually used for severe bruxism that doesn’t respond to other types of treatment.

What should I do if my child is grinding their teeth? 

Grinding teeth is common in children. In fact, 3 out of 10 children grind their teeth before reaching the age of 5. Thankfully, most children outgrow the habit on their own.

If it’s a new behavior, it may be helpful to talk with your child about any new stressful events — like problems at school or social difficulties. Working on ways to relax before bedtime may help prevent nighttime teeth grinding. Your child’s dentist can help determine if the teeth grinding are affecting their teeth and may recommend a night guard. However, this is usually not done if a child still has their baby teeth. 

What are the complications of teeth grinding?

Left untreated, bruxism can lead to:

• Tooth sensitivity

• Damaged teeth (which may require dental procedures to correct)

• Chronic ear pain

• Chronic headaches

• TMJ disorders — this can include “lock jaw” in which the jaw dislocates and can’t snap back into place

When should I see a dentist or health professional? 

If you know that you grind your teeth during the day or night, and you suffer from any of the complications described above, you should schedule an appointment with either your dentist or healthcare provider.

Generally, if you are concerned about damage to your teeth or TMJ issues, seeing your dentist is a good place to start. If you are experiencing chronic headaches or facial pain, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your concerns. 

Can bruxism go away on its own? 

While sometimes teeth grinding will resolve on its own (especially if it’s related to underlying stress that is short-lived), sometimes it will persist for years and may not resolve at all.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

Edited by:

Kelsey Abkin

Kelsey Abkin has been working as a journalist since 2016. She has held many titles throughout her career, including editor, content strategist, digital strategist, and writer.

Reviewed by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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