Bruxism (teeth grinding) - Symptoms and causes (2024)

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.

Products & Services

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.

Request an appointment

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

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

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Aug. 10, 2017

FAQs

Bruxism (teeth grinding) - Symptoms and causes? ›

Bruxism is when you clench, grind or gnash your teeth. It usually happens subconsciously, either during waking hours or when you're asleep. Causes include stress, anxiety, sleep disorders and certain medications. Most people who grind their teeth can ease symptoms with a custom mouth guard.

View Details ›

What are three 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.

Get More Info ›

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).

Read On ›

What damage is caused by bruxism? ›

Chronic, involuntary teeth grinding – technically called bruxism – can lead to all sorts of health problems. You could crack or fracture your teeth, which may require crowns or dental implants. You could also wear down the enamel on your teeth, leading to periodontal disease or lost teeth.

Show Me More ›

Can bruxism be cured? ›

In most cases, bruxism can be successfully treated. Treatment may involve: Behavior changes. You may be taught how to rest your tongue, teeth, and lips properly.

Tell Me More ›

What is the root cause of bruxism? ›

The most common cause of awake teeth grinding is stress and anxiety. The most common cause of sleep teeth grinding is a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers estimate 12-31% of adults grind their teeth at night, most of whom are undiagnosed. As many as 50% of children may suffer from teeth grinding.

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.

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.