Teeth Grinding 101: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a common sleep disorder characterized by clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth.

While most people associate teeth grinding with stress and anxiety, there are other causes. For example, some medications can cause involuntary teeth clenching and grinding.

If you have a sleep partner, they may be able to tell if you grind your teeth in your sleep. However, you may not be aware of the problem until it affects your oral health or quality of life.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

While the grinding may occur during the day, it is usually more intense at night. Stress and anxiety are considered the most common causes of teeth grinding. However, there are many other potential causes, including:

Stress and Anxiety

People who are depressed, anxious, or under stress grind their teeth because of the tension and pressure they are feeling. In many cases, this type of bruxism subsides when the underlying problem has been resolved.

Sleep Disorders

Teeth grinding is often a symptom of sleep disorders like sleep apnea or insomnia. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes people to stop repeatedly breathing during their sleep, while insomnia is a condition that makes it difficult for people to fall asleep. These conditions can cause people to unconsciously grind their teeth while they are sleeping, leading to permanent damage if left untreated.

Alcohol and Cigarette Use

People who consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes regularly have a higher chance of developing bruxism than those who do not. This is because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and can cause muscle tension in the jaw and face, which may lead to teeth grinding during sleep. Cigarette smoking is associated with increased stress levels, leading to bruxism.

Certain Medications

Some medications — such as certain antidepressants — can increase the risk of bruxism by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain involved in controlling jaw muscles. Medications containing stimulants also may increase the risk of bruxism.

Other Medical Conditions

Teeth grinding can occur in people with abnormal bites or missing or crooked teeth. It’s also more common in people who have allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

Migraines

A migraine is a severe headache that can cause nausea and vomiting. Some people have an aura before a migraine begins. An atmosphere is a warning sign that usually appears 10 to 30 minutes before a headache. An aura can include seeing flashing lights or blind spots or feeling tingling on one side of the face or an arm or leg.

Earaches

Earache is pain inside your ear canal and eardrum. Earache may develop due to infection, injury, or a growth in your ear canal. It could also be caused by tooth grinding, affecting your jaw joint (or temporomandibular joint).

Pain in the Face, Neck, and Shoulders

Pain in these areas is caused by muscle tension from grinding your teeth. The pain may feel like a soreness, tenderness, or tightness in these areas.

Painful Jaw

The most common symptom of bruxism is a sore or painful jaw. Many people find that their jaw hurts when they wake up in the morning after sleeping all night with their jaws clenching together. This pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that makes it difficult to open your mouth correctly.

Worn Teeth

Grinding your teeth wears down the enamel on your teeth, exposing the more sensitive layer underneath. This causes your teeth to be more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks than usual, making eating and drinking uncomfortable. Worn enamel also leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities and tooth decay because the outer layer of protection has been removed.

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Treatment Options

Teeth Grinding Mouth Guards and Splints

If you clench or grind your teeth, a teeth-grinding mouth guard or splint can help protect them from further damage. They fit over the upper or lower teeth and provide a physical barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage.

Night guards from the Teeth Night Guard Lab can help prevent damage caused by nighttime grinding, while occlusal (bite) splints keep the jaw in a resting position to relieve stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Botox Injections

Injections of botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) into the muscles of the jaw can help relieve muscle pain, spasms, and tenderness resulting from bruxism. It can also help improve sleep patterns disrupted by teeth grinding.

Stress Management Therapy

Learning to manage your stress through relaxation techniques may lessen your risk of grinding your teeth if you do so out of anxiety or tension. Try these tips:

• Exercise daily to reduce muscle tension, especially in your jaw
• Learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, to help control stress
• Get regular massages to relax tense muscles
• Keep a diary of when and why you grind your teeth so you can find ways to avoid those situations
• Seek counseling if you think emotional problems are causing you to grind your teeth or clench your jaw

Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback training involves placing electrodes on your scalp and jaw muscles to measure electrical activity when you clench your teeth or move your jaw. This information is then relayed to you via video or other visual media.

Final Word

Teeth grinding is a common problem that many people experience daily. It can be caused by a number of factors, including stress and anxiety, abnormal bite patterns, sleep disorders, and certain medications. In some cases, it can lead to serious dental problems like tooth decay, loss of enamel, and fractured teeth.

If you think you are suffering from bruxism, consult your dentist about treatment options. Wearing a mouthguard at night is an effective way to protect your teeth from damage. If you’re prone to grinding your teeth in stressful situations, consider incorporating stress-relieving activities into your day-to-day schedule, so you don’t have to worry about the long-term effects on your dental health.

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