What is bruxism?
Mayo Clinic describes bruxism as clenching or grinding the teeth and distinguishes two forms:
- Awake bruxism: clenching the teeth or tensing the jaw during the day, often without being aware of it.
- Sleep bruxism: clenching or grinding during sleep; Mayo Clinic classes it as a sleep-related movement disorder.
An international consensus paper (Lobbezoo and colleagues, 2018) stresses that in otherwise healthy people bruxism should not be considered a disorder, but a behaviour that can be a risk factor, and in some cases even a protective factor, for certain consequences.
How common it is depends heavily on how it is measured. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 176 study populations (Zieliński and colleagues, 2024) found a pooled prevalence of about 21 percent for sleep bruxism and about 23 percent for awake bruxism; for European adults the figures were around 23 and 20 percent. The authors caution that most studies relied on questionnaires and that the results varied widely.
Why do people grind or clench their teeth?
According to the NHS, the cause is not always clear, but bruxism is most often linked to stress and anxiety. Mayo Clinic describes an interplay of physical, mental-health and genetic factors. The sources name these risk factors:
- Stress, anxiety and tension: according to Mayo Clinic, awake bruxism is linked to emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger and frustration, and can become a habit during deep concentration.
- Sleep problems: the NHS names snoring and sleep apnoea. According to Cleveland Clinic, sleep apnoea and bruxism often occur together, although it is unclear which causes which.
- Smoking, alcohol, caffeine: according to Cleveland Clinic, smokers, people who drink alcohol and people who have more than six cups of coffee a day are about twice as likely to grind their teeth.
- Reflux: Mayo Clinic lists gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among the conditions associated with bruxism.
- Medicines: the NHS names medicines for sleep problems, depression and anxiety; Mayo Clinic adds certain antidepressants and medicines for seizures and ADHD; Cleveland Clinic names SSRIs.
- Family history and other conditions: according to Mayo Clinic, sleep bruxism tends to run in families and is more common with epilepsy, ADHD and Parkinson’s disease.
The consensus paper also notes what is not a main factor: bruxism is regulated mainly centrally, in the brain, and not by peripheral factors such as the way the teeth meet (occlusion). If you suspect that a medicine is contributing to your grinding, do not stop it on your own; discuss it with the prescribing doctor.
What are the signs and consequences of teeth grinding?
Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic name above all:
- flattened, worn, chipped, fractured or loose teeth, lost fillings
- sensitive or painful teeth
- tired or tight jaw muscles, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, enlarged jaw muscles
- pain in the jaw, face or neck that can feel like earache
- dull headaches, especially in the morning at the temples
- indentations on the tongue and cheeks, tinnitus
- disturbed sleep, grinding noises that wake a partner
According to the NHS, grinding can wear down and break the teeth, leading to sensitivity, lost fillings and even tooth loss. Mayo Clinic stresses that for most people bruxism does not cause serious problems, but in severe cases it can damage teeth, jaws, fillings and crowns. The consensus paper of 2018 names repeated failures of restorative and prosthetic work as a possible sign of bruxism and prosthodontic complications as a possible consequence. For sensitivity caused by wear, see our guide on sensitive teeth; for acute pain, our guide toothache: what to do; for a broken tooth, our guide on a chipped or cracked tooth.
Does teeth grinding lead to jaw pain and jaw joint problems?
It can, but the relationship is not simple. Complaints of the jaw joint and chewing muscles are grouped as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The NHS counts teeth grinding among the causes, alongside stress, wear of the joint, blows to the head or face and an uneven bite; Mayo Clinic writes that severe bruxism can cause jaw joint problems.
Typical signs according to the NHS and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR):
- pain around the jaw, ear and temple
- clicking, popping or grinding noises when moving the jaw
- headaches at the temples
- locking of the jaw or restricted mouth opening
According to the NIDCR, clicking without pain is common and normal, and many complaints are brief and settle on their own; some, however, become long-lasting.
What can a night guard do, and what other treatments exist?
According to the NHS, a dentist can make a mouth guard or splint to be worn at night, designed to fit precisely over your upper or lower teeth and protect them from damage. Mayo Clinic explains that the splint keeps the upper and lower teeth apart during sleep and so prevents damage; according to Cleveland Clinic, it protects the teeth and can position the jaw so that muscle strain is reduced.
What you should know about the guard:
- It does not remove the cause; its purpose is to protect teeth, fillings and dental work. Mayo Clinic notes that splints may not stop the bruxism itself, and Cleveland Clinic says they help if worn regularly.
- According to the NIDCR, a splint does not change the bite, and whether it relieves jaw joint pain is not well established.
Further approaches according to Mayo Clinic are stress management, behaviour change and exercises to relax the jaw muscles, repair of worn teeth and, in severe cases, medicines or botulinum toxin injections; medicines are generally not very effective. Which approach suits you is assessed at the examination.
What can you do yourself, and when should you see a dentist?
The NHS recommendations on teeth grinding and jaw joint complaints can be summarised as follows:
- Plan relaxation: breathing exercises, music and regular exercise can reduce stress.
- Look after your sleep: fixed bedtimes, winding down in the evening, a dark and quiet bedroom.
- Spare the jaw: prefer soft foods, avoid chewing gum and hard foods when the teeth or jaw hurt, and do not chew pens.
- Cool: an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel can be applied to a painful or swollen jaw for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Reduce stimulants: stop smoking and limit alcohol and caffeine; Mayo Clinic advises avoiding caffeine after dinner and alcohol in the evening.
The NHS names over-the-counter painkillers as an option for pain; follow the packet instructions and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you take other medicines regularly.
According to the NHS, you should see a dentist if your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive, if your jaw, face or ear hurts, or if your partner notices grinding at night. Where stress, anxiety, smoking or alcohol are in the background, your doctor can help. If pain stops you eating or drinking, or you have frequent severe headaches, do not delay seeing a doctor.
What does teeth grinding mean for crowns and implants in Türkiye?
If you are planning crowns, bridges or implants, your grinding is important information for the planning: according to Mayo Clinic, severe bruxism can damage fillings and crowns, and the 2018 consensus paper names prosthodontic complications among its possible consequences. Tell us at the preliminary assessment on WhatsApp whether you grind or clench, whether you already wear a guard and whether fillings or crowns have broken before.
At the examination at our clinic in Serdivan, wear, cracks and fractures, the condition of fillings and crowns, and tenderness of the chewing muscles are assessed. If a crack or root fracture needs to be clarified, a cone-beam CT (CBCT) is available. Whether a protective guard over new crowns or implants makes sense and how it is organised is discussed at the examination and recorded in your written treatment and cost plan. What applies to crowns is explained on our page on zirconia crowns and in our guide how long do zirconia crowns last.
Once you are home, you can reach us on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54; during opening hours we reply to messages in English and German within 15 minutes. Follow-up after treatment is described on our page on aftercare and follow-up.