{"id":668,"date":"2018-11-29T06:44:30","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T14:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/?p=668"},"modified":"2025-10-11T08:42:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T15:42:02","slug":"nightly-teeth-grinding-causes-bruxism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/nightly-teeth-grinding-causes-bruxism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teeth grinding is a fairly common movement disorder that usually occurs during sleep (also called \u201cnocturnal bruxism\u201d). This behaviour can happen during the day as well. Although more common in children, roughly eight percent of adults are nighttime teeth grinders. The occasional bout of bruxism is no cause for alarm (and happens because of a number of factors). However, if it occurs regularly, a visit to your family dentist is needed to discuss ways to prevent damage to both teeth and jaws.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grinding is also known as bruxism. The term \u201cla bruxomanie\u201d was used for the first time by Maria Pietkiewicz in 1907 and is derived from the Greek word <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brygm\u00f3s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning \u201cgnashing of teeth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who grind their teeth at night may have other sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea and snoring) that contribute to interrupted sleep and fatigue-related problems. When bruxism happens in your sleep, you may not be aware that you have it. If the following symptoms sound familiar, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lambtonfamilydental.com\/family-dentistry\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seek treatment from your dentist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-670 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tooth-pain-is-one-symptom-of-bruxism.jpg\" alt=\"he Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism\" width=\"1500\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tooth-pain-is-one-symptom-of-bruxism.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tooth-pain-is-one-symptom-of-bruxism-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tooth-pain-is-one-symptom-of-bruxism-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tooth-pain-is-one-symptom-of-bruxism-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Symptoms:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teeth grinding or clenching (which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped, or loose<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased tooth pain or sensitivity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won\u2019t open or close completely<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaw, neck, face pain, or soreness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain that feels like an earache, but no ear problem is present<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dull headache around the temples<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damage to the inside of your cheeks from chewing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disrupted sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note which symptoms have manifested themselves and talk to your oral healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-673 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Anxiety-is-one-cause-of-night-teeth-grinding.jpg\" alt=\"he Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Anxiety-is-one-cause-of-night-teeth-grinding.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Anxiety-is-one-cause-of-night-teeth-grinding-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Anxiety-is-one-cause-of-night-teeth-grinding-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Anxiety-is-one-cause-of-night-teeth-grinding-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Causes:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The causes of bruxism are largely unknown, but doctors have linked it to a combination of factors that are genetic, physical, and psychological. Some related links to teeth grinding include anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, caffeine consumption, sleep apnea, snoring, and fatigue. It is important to note that (in most cases) psychiatric or psychological factors do not play a role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-675 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taking-certain-medications-can-influence-teeth-grinding.jpg\" alt=\"he Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taking-certain-medications-can-influence-teeth-grinding.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taking-certain-medications-can-influence-teeth-grinding-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taking-certain-medications-can-influence-teeth-grinding-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taking-certain-medications-can-influence-teeth-grinding-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i>Credit: Pina Massina<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Risk Factors:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the main causes of bruxism have yet to be identified, there are several risk factors that make some people more susceptible. These are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stress and anxiety <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can lead to teeth grinding. A 2014 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindawi.com\/journals\/bmri\/2014\/469187\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BioMed Research International<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> study concluded that bruxism was on the rise among adults due to an increasingly stressful world, and that stress and bruxism were correlated.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bruxism is common in young children, but it usually goes away by adulthood. However, there has been an increase in adults seeking treatment for nocturnal (nighttime) bruxism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Personality type:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Extraversion and neuroticism were two personality traits cited as being more prone to adult bruxism, as well as people who perceive anxiety more acutely.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Medications and other substances:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bruxism may be an uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, such as certain antidepressants. Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs may also increase the risk of bruxism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family members with bruxism: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep bruxism tends to occur in families. Another 2014 study showed that nine out of 10 studies concluded that \u201cbruxism appears to be (in part) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/24762185\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genetically determined<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other disorders: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bruxism is sometimes associated with certain mental health and medical conditions. These include:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Dementia<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD),<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Epilepsy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Night terrors<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Concerns:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teeth grinding can lead to several adverse reactions and complications for both oral health and overall physical health:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damage to teeth, crowns, other dental work, and\/or your jaw<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches caused by tension created by grinding your teeth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Face and jaw pain that may become increasingly severe<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damage to the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) located just in front of the ears that lead to clicking sounds in the jaw<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interrupted and\/or poor quality sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-672 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-will-notice-signs-of-bruxism.jpg\" alt=\"he Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism\" width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-will-notice-signs-of-bruxism.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-will-notice-signs-of-bruxism-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-will-notice-signs-of-bruxism-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-will-notice-signs-of-bruxism-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Credit: Umanoide<\/em><\/p>\n<p><b>How is bruxism diagnosed?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re experiencing any of the signs and symptoms listed above, mention this to your dentist at your next appointment. If the symptoms are acute, make a special appointment immediately. Your dentist will look for the following signs of bruxism:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tenderness in your jaw muscles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broken or missing teeth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other damage to your teeth (such as worn areas)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using X-rays, your dentist will look at the underlying bone and assess any other below-the-surface damage<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This exam can also detect other disorders that may have similar symptoms, such as TMJ issues or other health conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-671 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-might-prescribe-a-night-guard-to-prevent-damage.jpg\" alt=\"he Nightly Grind: Teeth Grinding Causes, Risks, Cures for Bruxism\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-might-prescribe-a-night-guard-to-prevent-damage.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-might-prescribe-a-night-guard-to-prevent-damage-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-might-prescribe-a-night-guard-to-prevent-damage-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Your-dentist-might-prescribe-a-night-guard-to-prevent-damage-1024x614.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Treatments:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, no treatment is required \u2014 especially with children who tend to grow out of bruxism. If, however, your bruxism is interfering in the quality of your life, there are several approaches that your dentist can take to help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first is to protect your teeth from any further damage using a <\/span><b>splint or mouth guard<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These separate the teeth and stop them from clenching against each other. These appliances are made of hard acrylic or soft materials and are custom designed to fit over either your upper or lower teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the damage to your teeth has already progressed and has led to sensitivity or the inability to chew, your dentist will reshape the chewing surfaces or use crowns to repair the damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These approaches don\u2019t cure bruxism, but they help <\/span><b>mitigate the damage the teeth grinding can do<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or has done to your teeth and jaws. To actually address the bruxism itself, you might need a behavioural modification approach, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress management through classes or sessions with a trained counsellor\/therapist.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing proper jaw and mouth positioning during the day, which has been shown to lead to improved positioning at night. Your dentist can help you with these techniques.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biofeedback has been known to provide some relief for particularly ingrained behaviours. Using monitoring equipment and procedures, patients are taught how to control the muscles in their jaws.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Medications:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication has not proven to be very effective in treating bruxism, but there are a few prescriptions or approaches that may work for some patients:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle relaxants to take just before bed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Botox injections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress or anxiety medications that might help relieve the underlying cause of the bruxism<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>How to minimize bruxism:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Practice good \u201csleep hygiene.\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Go to bed at the same time nightly and wake up at the same time each morning. Place all electronics outside of the bedroom, and keep your room temperature a bit cooler.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Keep stress levels low.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Listen to music, take a warm bath, do some light exercise, or read a mellow book before falling asleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limit caffeine.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Drink herbal teas from early afternoon on instead of caffeinated drinks or coffee. Remember also that alcohol can worsen bruxism, so limit that intake as well.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeing your dentist regularly gives them a chance to monitor changes to your teeth or jaw and help you find a way to reduce the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lambtonfamilydental.com\/education\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">severity of bruxism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and its side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bruxism goes beyond the annoyance of disturbing your sleep partner\u2019s rest; it\u2019s potentially harmful to your teeth and\/or jaw. Teeth grinding habits should be monitored and followed closely by your family dentist who treats damage and helps you change the behaviour.\u00a0 Get a good night\u2019s sleep and keep your teeth safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For <\/span><b>dentistry in Sarnia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reach Lambton Family Dental at (519) 344-5747. Our licensed health care professionals have years of experience, and our staff will help put you at ease. Relieve your tooth and jaw pain caused by bruxism or take care of other oral health problems. Call or schedule a consultation by using our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lambtonfamilydental.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teeth grinding is a fairly common movement disorder that usually occurs during sleep (also called \u201cnocturnal bruxism\u201d). This behaviour can &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":669,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=668"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2082,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668\/revisions\/2082"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lambtonfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}