In short
Bruxism is clenching or grinding your teeth, either in your sleep or while awake. Signs include a sore jaw or headache on waking and worn or sensitive teeth. Stress, alcohol, caffeine and smoking make it more likely. Nothing reliably stops sleep grinding, but a dentist-made night guard protects your teeth, and cutting triggers helps.
On this page
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is repeated activity of the jaw muscles: clenching, grinding, or bracing the jaw. An international expert group separates it into two types that behave differently.1
- Sleep bruxism happens during sleep, in bursts, and you are usually unaware of it
- Awake bruxism is mostly clenching or holding the jaw tense during the day, often while concentrating or stressed
The same group points out that bruxism isn’t automatically a disorder. In an otherwise healthy person it is a behaviour, and it only needs treatment when it causes problems.1
How common is teeth grinding?
A systematic review found that about 13 per cent of adults report grinding their teeth in their sleep, and awake clenching is reported by more, roughly one in four. The authors cautioned that these figures rely on people noticing and reporting it themselves.2
Sleep still not right?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
Signs you grind your teeth at night
- A partner hears grinding or clicking
- A tired, tight or sore jaw when you wake
- A dull headache at the temples in the morning
- Teeth that are worn flat, chipped, cracked or loose
- Teeth that are sensitive to hot and cold
- Ridges on the inside of your cheeks or the edges of your tongue
- A jaw that clicks, locks or is painful to open wide
Dentists often spot the wear before you notice any symptoms.7,8
What causes teeth grinding?
There is rarely one cause. Factors linked with bruxism include:3,4
- Stress and anxiety
- Alcohol, caffeine and smoking. A systematic review found the odds of sleep bruxism were almost twice as high in people who drank alcohol, about one and a half times as high in heavy coffee drinkers and more than twice as high in smokers
- Disturbed sleep, including snoring and sleep apnoea
- Reflux
- Some medicines, including certain medicines for depression, and recreational stimulants
- Family history
How to stop grinding your teeth in your sleep
No treatment reliably stops sleep bruxism. A review of the trials concluded there isn’t enough evidence to name a standard treatment, with one exception: a night guard.5
- A night guard (occlusal splint). A custom-made cover worn over the teeth at night. It usually doesn’t stop the grinding, but it protects the teeth from wear and can ease jaw soreness5,8,9
- Cut the triggers. Less alcohol and caffeine, especially in the evening, and quitting smoking3
- Manage stress. Relaxation, exercise and psychological therapy are commonly recommended. The evidence that they reduce grinding itself is limited, but they help with the tension around it5
- Treat sleep problems. If you snore loudly or wake unrefreshed, ask about sleep apnoea
- Biofeedback. Devices that give a small signal when the jaw muscles tighten reduced grinding in short-term studies. Long-term results aren’t known6
How to stop clenching during the day
Awake bruxism responds to awareness. Your teeth should only touch when you chew and swallow. Set a reminder, a sticker on your screen or a phone alert, and each time you see it, check your jaw and return to the rest position: lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting behind your top front teeth.
Can teeth grinding cause headaches and jaw pain?
Yes. Overworked jaw muscles can ache, and the pain often spreads to the temples and ears. It can be confused with other headaches. See tension headache and waking up with a headache.
When to see a dentist or doctor
- Your teeth are worn, chipped, loose or sensitive
- You wake with jaw pain or headaches most mornings
- Your jaw clicks, locks or won’t open fully
- You also snore loudly or feel sleepy during the day
- Grinding began after you started a new medicine
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Lobbezoo F, Ahlberg J, Raphael KG, et al. International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: Report of a work in progress. J Oral Rehabil. 2018;45(11):837-844.
- Manfredini D, Winocur E, Guarda-Nardini L, et al. Epidemiology of bruxism in adults: a systematic review of the literature. J Orofac Pain. 2013;27(2):99-110.
- Bertazzo-Silveira E, Kruger CM, Porto De Toledo I, et al. Association between sleep bruxism and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drug abuse: A systematic review. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(11):859-866.e4.
- Kuhn M, Türp JC. Risk factors for bruxism. Swiss Dent J. 2018;128(2):118-124.
- Manfredini D, Ahlberg J, Winocur E, et al. Management of sleep bruxism in adults: a qualitative systematic literature review. J Oral Rehabil. 2015;42(11):862-74.
- Jokubauskas L, Baltrušaitytė A. Efficacy of biofeedback therapy on sleep bruxism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2018;45(6):485-495.
- healthdirect. Teeth grinding.
- Sleep Health Foundation. Teeth grinding (bruxism).
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Teeth grinding.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.