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Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Bruxism means grinding or clenching your teeth, often without realising. This guide explains the signs, the possible causes and what can be done.

Key points

  • Bruxism means clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth, during sleep or while awake, often without realising.
  • Common signs are worn or chipped teeth, sensitivity, a sore jaw on waking and headaches around the temples.
  • The causes are not fully understood. Stress, poor sleep, caffeine, alcohol, smoking and some medicines may be involved.1
  • A custom-made night guard protects the teeth from wear but does not stop the habit.
  • See a dentist if you wake with a sore jaw, your teeth look worn or your jaw clicks or locks.1

Many people grind or clench their teeth at some time, often during sleep or at moments of stress. Occasional grinding does little harm. Frequent, forceful grinding can wear teeth, cause jaw and head pain and damage dental work. It is worth recognising.

What bruxism is

Bruxism is the habit of clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth together. It can happen while you are awake, often as clenching, or during sleep, when you are not aware of it. Many people only find out from a partner who hears the grinding, or from their dentist.

Signs and symptoms

  • Worn, flattened or chipped teeth.
  • Tooth sensitivity, as enamel wears and dentine is exposed. Tooth wear, where enamel and then dentine are lost, is one cause of sensitivity.3
  • A sore jaw or tiredness in the jaw muscles on waking.
  • Headaches, often around the temples.
  • Pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking or popping, difficulty opening the mouth or locking, which the NHS lists as symptoms of temporomandibular disorder.1
  • Cracked teeth or broken fillings and crowns.
  • Indentations on the tongue or the inside of the cheeks.
  • Disturbed sleep.

Possible causes

The causes of bruxism are not fully understood, and several factors seem to be involved.

  • Stress and anxiety. The NHS notes that stress and poor sleep go with jaw pain.1
  • Sleep problems, including poor sleep and snoring.
  • Habits, such as chewing gum, nail biting or chewing pens.
  • Caffeine, alcohol and smoking.
  • Some medicines.
  • Bite problems, although the evidence for a direct link is limited.

Because the cause is often unclear, treatment focuses on protecting the teeth and easing symptoms.

Why it matters

  • Wear and damage. Over time, grinding can wear enamel, crack teeth and break fillings. The European consensus on tooth wear recommends finding the cause, prevention and monitoring, and a minimally invasive approach if treatment is needed.3
  • Jaw pain. Grinding and clenching can overload the jaw muscles and joints. The BMJ guideline on chronic jaw pain says temporomandibular disorders affect 6 to 9 percent of adults worldwide.2
  • Headaches. Jaw and head pain can be linked. A systematic review explored the association between migraine and temporomandibular disorders.5
  • Implants and restorations. Grinding can overload implants,4 and crowns and bridges can chip or loosen.

When to see a dentist

See your dentist if:

  • you wake with a sore jaw or headache regularly;
  • your teeth look worn, flat or chipped, or feel sensitive;
  • your jaw clicks, locks or hurts;1
  • someone tells you that you grind at night;
  • a tooth hurts or is sensitive, or you grind your teeth.1

How the dentist checks

The dentist asks where it hurts, when, how long, what sets it off, and whether you have clicking, locking, headache, chest pain or vision problems.1 They feel the jaw muscles and joints, watch how the jaw opens and closes and check the teeth for wear and tenderness.1 Teeth are tested and X-rayed, because a tooth problem or a grinding habit can cause jaw pain.1 If there are signs of a heart problem, giant cell arteritis or another urgent cause, the dentist stops and arranges medical help.1

What helps

A night guard. A custom-made plastic guard worn at night protects the teeth from wear, and can ease jaw strain. It does not stop the grinding, but it takes the force. Ask your dentist whether you need one, and have it made to fit.

Self-care for the jaw. The NHS advises soft foods, paracetamol or ibuprofen, an ice pack for up to five minutes at a time or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day, whichever feels better, massaging the jaw muscles, relaxing, and avoiding chewing gum, clenching and wide yawns.1 Your teeth should be apart except when you are eating.1

Reducing stress and improving sleep. Relaxation techniques, regular exercise and a good sleep routine can help, because stress and poor sleep go with jaw pain.1

Limiting caffeine and alcohol, particularly in the evening.

For long-lasting pain. For pain lasting three months or more, the BMJ guideline strongly recommends cognitive behavioural therapy, therapist-assisted mobilisation, manual trigger point therapy, supervised exercise and usual care such as education.2

Treating the damage. Worn or chipped teeth can be repaired with bonding or crowns once the grinding is under control. See our pages on dental bonding and dental crowns.

What is not usually advised

The guideline for jaw pain does not rely on irreversible dental treatments, and your dentist will usually start with simple, reversible measures. Be cautious about any suggestion of extensive dental work solely to treat grinding. Ask what the evidence is.

Bruxism in children

Many children grind their teeth, particularly during sleep, and most grow out of it. If a child complains of a sore jaw, has worn teeth or sleeps badly, mention it to the dentist. See our page on pediatric dentistry.

Protecting your teeth

  • Wear a night guard if advised.
  • Do not chew gum, pens or nails.
  • Cut down on caffeine.
  • Learn to notice clenching, and keep your teeth apart.
  • Have regular check-ups so wear is caught early.

Learn more

Our pages on TMJ and migraine treatment, jaw pain and sensitive teeth cover related problems, and our guides to sensitive teeth and cracked teeth explain two common results.

Awake and sleep bruxism

Dentists often separate bruxism into two patterns. Sleep bruxism happens at night, usually without you knowing, and a partner may hear it. Awake bruxism is clenching or tensing the jaw during the day, often while concentrating, driving, using a phone or feeling stressed.

The two patterns are managed differently. Awake clenching can often be reduced by noticing it and changing the habit. Sleep grinding is harder to control, so protection with a night guard and attention to sleep and stress play a larger part. Many people have both, and the dentist can look at the wear pattern on your teeth to understand which is more likely.

A relaxed jaw position you can practise

Many people do not realise how often they clench. A simple habit can help.

  1. Let your lips close gently.
  2. Keep your teeth slightly apart.
  3. Let your tongue rest softly on the roof of your mouth, behind the front teeth.
  4. Relax your jaw, shoulders and face.

Set a reminder on your phone or place small stickers where you will see them, and check your jaw each time. If your teeth are touching, return to the relaxed position. Over weeks, the habit can become automatic. A warm cloth held against the jaw can also ease tightness after a stressful day.

A bedtime routine to protect your teeth and jaw

  • Limit caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
  • Wind down before sleep, with a screen-free routine, reading or gentle stretching.
  • Keep a regular bedtime so sleep is deeper and steadier.
  • Wear your night guard every night if you have been given one.
  • Clean the night guard each morning with a brush and cool water, let it dry and keep it in its case.
  • Bring the guard to your check-ups, so the dentist can check the fit and wear.

If the guard cracks, no longer fits or leaves you with a sore jaw, tell your dentist. Do not use a guard that has stopped fitting properly.

Myths and facts

Myth: grinding always means stress. Stress is one factor, but not the only one.

Myth: a night guard stops grinding. It protects teeth but does not stop the habit.

Fact: early checks prevent damage. Catching wear early keeps more of the tooth.

Frequently asked questions

Is teeth grinding harmful?

Occasional grinding is usually not. Frequent forceful grinding can wear and crack teeth and cause jaw pain.

Can I stop myself grinding in my sleep?

Not directly, but a night guard, stress reduction and good sleep habits help.

Do I need a night guard if I have implants?

Grinding can overload implants, so ask your dentist.4

Can grinding cause headaches?

It can contribute, because jaw and head pain can be linked.15

Can children with grinding habits wear a night guard?

Most children grow out of grinding, so a guard is rarely the first step. If a child has a sore jaw or worn teeth, ask a dentist to examine them.

Can stress management really reduce grinding?

It can help. The NHS notes that stress and poor sleep go with jaw pain, so relaxation and better sleep are sensible steps alongside protecting the teeth.1

About the author

Portrait of Dr Natalia DeSilva

Dr Natalia DeSilva, BDS, MDS – Oral Medicine and Radiology. BDS (2002) and MDS in Oral Medicine and Radiology (2006), Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Gold medallist in her BDS, and second rank holder in the university for her MDS. She sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Natalia DeSilva.

Sources

  1. NHS website. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (patient information). Page review date 20 June 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/
  2. Busse JW, Casassus R, Carrasco-Labra A, Durham J, Mock D, Zakrzewska JM, et al. Management of chronic pain associated with temporomandibular disorders: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ, 2023;383:e076227. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38101929/
  3. Loomans B, Opdam N, Attin T, Bartlett D, Edelhoff D, Frankenberger R, et al. Severe tooth wear: European consensus statement on management guidelines. Journal of Adhesive Dentistry, 2017;19(2):111-119. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28439579/
  4. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry (patient information). https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/dental-implants-in-restorative-dentistry/
  5. Dias MF, Ferro AC, Spavieri JHP, Ferrisse TM, Goncalves DAG. Exploring the bidirectional association between migraine and temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2026;53:794-806. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41439318/

Medically reviewed by Dr Natalia DeSilva, BDS, MDS – Oral Medicine and Radiology, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.