Do you grind your teeth while sleeping? Why does it happen, and why can it be dangerous?

2026 07 27

You wake up with a headache. Your jaw is tense, your teeth are sensitive and your partner says they heard a strange grinding sound during the night. Or the dentist noticed at a routine check-up that your tooth enamel is unusually worn. That is bruxism — and many people find out about it not from themselves but from others.

What is bruxism

Bruxism is a disorder of involuntary teeth grinding and clenching that most commonly occurs during sleep. In medicine it is divided into two types: nocturnal bruxism, which occurs during sleep, and daytime bruxism, where the person unconsciously clenches or grinds their teeth while awake.

In this article we are talking about the nocturnal variant — more dangerous because the person does not control it and often does not even know it is happening.

Statistics show that bruxism affects around 8–10% of adults and up to 30% of children. Many of them never find out about their disorder until symptoms appear or a partner tells them.

Why people grind their teeth

The causes of bruxism are not fully understood, but science identifies several main factors that often act together.

Stress and anxiety

This is the most documented and most common cause of bruxism. Studies consistently show a strong link between psychological tension and nocturnal teeth grinding. People with high stress levels, generalised anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder statistically suffer from bruxism significantly more often.

The mechanism is simple: stress activates the sympathetic nervous system — the body remains in a state of alertness even during sleep. The jaw muscles, which tense during the day due to stress, "repeat" this automatically at night.

Sleep disorders

Bruxism frequently occurs together with other sleep disorders — particularly sleep apnoea. Studies show that around 25–30% of people with obstructive sleep apnoea also have bruxism. This is thought to be connected to micro-arousals that occur during apnoea episodes — the jaw muscles are activated as part of this process.

A connection has also been observed with restless legs syndrome and other parasomnias.

Genetics

Bruxism has a strong genetic component. If one parent ground their teeth during sleep, the child has a significantly higher probability of having the same disorder. Twin studies confirm that genetics explains around 50% of bruxism cases.

Certain substances and medications

Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine — all three increase the risk of bruxism. Alcohol is particularly problematic — it disrupts the sleep structure and creates unstable sleep phases in which bruxism episodes are more frequent.

Certain medications can also provoke bruxism — particularly SSRI antidepressants (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram). If bruxism started after beginning new medications — that is the first question to ask a doctor.

Dental occlusion

It was previously thought that an incorrect bite was the main cause of bruxism. Modern science rejects this theory — dental occlusion may have a minor role but is not the primary factor. This is important to know because previously many patients underwent unnecessary dental correction procedures.

How to recognise bruxism

The biggest problem — many people do not know they are grinding their teeth until obvious symptoms appear or a partner tells them. Here are the main signs.

Morning jaw pain or tension — the jaw muscles work all night, so in the morning fatigue and pain are felt in the jaw area, sometimes in the ears or temples.

Morning headache — particularly in the temple area. This is a classic bruxism symptom that many mistakenly consider to be ordinary morning headache.

Sensitive teeth — when tooth enamel wears down, the teeth become more sensitive to hot, cold or sweet.

Worn tooth enamel — a sign observed by the dentist at a routine check-up. The teeth may look shortened, flattened or chipped.

Grinding sound noticed by partner — this is usually the first signal that the problem exists.

Biting the cheek mucosa — some bruxism sufferers also unconsciously bite the inside of their cheeks or lips.

How dangerous is bruxism

Bruxism is not merely an unpleasant habit. Long-term uncontrolled teeth grinding can have serious consequences.

Tooth damage — this is the most visible and most common consequence. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but does not renew itself. Once worn — it is worn forever. In severe bruxism, tooth cracking, fracture or even loss is possible.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder — this is a jaw joint dysfunction causing pain, clicking when opening the mouth and restricted movement. Chronic bruxism is one of the main causes of TMJ disorder.

Chronic head and facial pain — nocturnal overexertion of the jaw muscles can cause chronic headache that resembles migraine or tension-type headache.

Disrupted sleep quality — bruxism episodes disrupt deep sleep. Even if the person does not wake up, micro-arousals worsen sleep quality, so in the morning fatigue is felt despite adequate duration.

Neck and shoulder tension — the jaw muscles are connected to the neck and shoulder muscles. Chronic bruxism is often accompanied by neck pain and shoulder tension.

What to do — treatment options

Bruxism cannot be "cured" with a single solution but can be effectively controlled.

Occlusal splint — this is a plastic dental protection device worn at night. It does not cure bruxism but protects the teeth from wear and reduces tension in the jaw muscles. This is usually the first solution recommended by the dentist.

Stress management — since stress is the primary cause of bruxism, stress reduction techniques directly affect the intensity of the disorder. Meditation, regular physical activity, psychotherapy — all these methods have a scientific basis in the bruxism context.

Improving sleep quality — better, more stable sleep reduces the frequency of bruxism episodes. This includes sleep hygiene principles: a regular sleep schedule, a dark and quiet sleep environment, avoiding screens before bedtime. Breathable, natural bedding from Savashome helps maintain optimal temperature during the night and does not disturb the deep sleep phases — and more stable deep sleep directly reduces the intensity of bruxism episodes.

Botox injections — an effective but expensive solution in severe cases. Botox is injected into the jaw muscles, reducing their strength. The effect lasts 3–6 months. Studies show high effectiveness but this is not a long-term solution.

Biofeedback — a special therapy in which the patient is taught to recognise jaw muscle tension and reduce it. Used as a supplementary tool alongside other methods.

Medications — in certain cases the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants or, if bruxism is connected to an anxiety disorder, appropriate preparations.

When to see a doctor

Consult a dentist or doctor if you regularly feel jaw pain or tension in the morning, headache in the temple area, your teeth have become more sensitive than before, a partner has heard grinding sounds, the dentist has noticed tooth wear or bruxism started after beginning new medications.

In summary

Bruxism is more common than most people think — and more dangerous than it seems. A person who grinds their teeth at night does not sleep well, damages their teeth and accumulates jaw tension that manifests in the morning as pain and fatigue.

The good news: bruxism can be controlled. The occlusal splint protects the teeth, stress management reduces the cause, and improving sleep quality reduces the frequency of episodes. The most important thing — do not ignore the symptoms and seek specialist help in time.

Your teeth are the only ones you will have for your entire life. It is worth ensuring they remain healthy.