Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
By DR Mark Dohald | Principle Dental Officer
5 minute read |
Published 23 September 2024
Bruxism is a condition where a person grinds, clenches, or gnashes their teeth; it can occur when awake or asleep. While bruxism that happens when a person is awake is more common, bruxism that happens during sleep has been studied more. Children as well as adults can have this condition.
What causes Bruxism?
Oral health specialists say stress and certain personality types are the two main causes of bruxism. Bruxism often affects people with nervous tension, such as anger, pain, or frustration. It also affects people with aggressive or overly competitive tendencies.
These self-care steps may prevent or help treat Bruxism:
- Reduce stress.
- Avoid stimulating substances in the evenings such as caffeine or alcohol.
- Practice good sleep habits such as limiting screen time before bed and engaging in a regular wind-down practice.
- Schedule regular dental exams.
How do my doctor and or dentist help?
If you have symptoms of teeth grinding, talk to your dentist or doctor. Your dentist can examine your teeth and suggest suitable treatments.
If your dentist finds that you have sleep bruxism, they may refer you to be checked by a doctor for sleep apnoea. Your dentist will check for signs of bruxism, such as tooth wear and damage, during regular dental check-ups. If they suspect teeth grinding, they will do an examination.
Your dentist will ask about your symptoms, sleep habits, general health and medication.
How can teeth grinding be treated?
Not everybody who grinds their teeth needs treatment but if you do need treatment, there are a few different ways to tackle it.
You can manage teeth grinding by reducing stress and anxiety. Your dentist or doctor may suggest:
- counselling
- relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and meditation
- developing good sleep habits
- avoiding stimulants and caffeine
- attending a consultation with a sleep physician
Another approach is to manage the physical aspects of teeth grinding. This may be with:
- a custom-made mouthguard (known as an occlusal splint) to protect your teeth.
- dental treatment to repair damaged teeth.
- physiotherapy to help relieve jaw muscle pain and fatigue.
- medical treatment for any conditions linked to tooth grinding.
It's common to use more than one approach so it’s important to talk to your dentist or doctor about your options and their associated benefits and risks.
