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
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 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.
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 diseases cause teeth grinding? ›
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 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.
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 stops jaw clenching? ›
Sufficient vitamin D and calcium concentrations are required for regulating both the nervous system and muscular function [20] including the jaw muscle contraction.
Can magnesium stop bruxism? ›
Magnesium supplements can help relax the small, fast twitch muscles in your jaw and reduce grinding further.
Can vitamin D stop bruxism? ›
After analyzing the data, the authors found an association between deficient levels of vitamin D and the severity of bruxism. More individuals reporting moderate and severe bruxism were deficient in vitamin D concentrations than those experiencing no symptoms or other levels of tooth clenching or grinding, they wrote.
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.
What is the difference between teeth grinding and bruxism? ›
Clenching or grinding of the teeth (bruxism) is a common activity that can occur both during the day and at night. Some prefer to split these concepts into separate behaviors while others group them together. Grinding or bruxism involves moving the jaw with the teeth held together.
How do I stop bruxism at night? ›
To stop grinding your teeth, check out these seven treatment options and techniques you could try today to experience some relief.
- Get a Nighttime Mouth Guard. ...
- Start Exercising. ...
- Relax Right Before Bed. ...
- Massage Your Jaw Muscles. ...
- Become More Conscious of Your Clenching. ...
- Stop Chewing Everything but Food. ...
- Avoid Chewy Foods.
As both a neuromuscular and dental disorder, bruxism crosses specialty lines. Physicians (including neurologists) are not typically trained in evaluation of TMD related issues and many dentists lack specialized training (with the exception of treating malocclusion and preventing tooth damage).
At what age does bruxism stop? ›
Most kids outgrow bruxism when they lose their baby teeth.
Is bruxism a medical or dental issue? ›
Unequivocally, bruxism is both a medical and a dental issue. This affliction spans a wide array of possible variants, weaving in genetics, lifestyle, pharmaceutical usage, personality, vitamin deficiency, sleep cycles, and neurological threads.
What is the number one cause of teeth grinding? ›
stress and anxiety – this is the most common cause of teeth grinding. sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea. taking certain medicines, including a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Which medication may lead to bruxism? ›
Bruxism is an under-recognised adverse drug reaction particularly associated with use of antipsychotics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A recent systematic review of case reports found it was most commonly reported with fluoxetine, venlafaxine and sertraline.
Which teeth are most affected by bruxism? ›
The distal corners of the maxillary central and lateral incisors are very common areas where damage from bruxism is noticed. Common canine wear facets are rounded over to the labial surface of the cusp tip, whereas normal mastication wear blends over to the lingual surface.
