Bruxism
Key points
- The term clenching means you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially the back teeth.
- People can clench and grind subconsciously during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control.
- Signs and tests An examination can rule out other disorders that may cause similar jaw pain or ear pain, including ear disorders such as ear infections, problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) itself, and dental disorders.
- The goals of treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth, and reduce clenching behaviors as much as possible.
Alternative names
Teeth grinding and clenching
Definition
Bruxism is when you clench or grind your teeth. The term clenching means you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially the back teeth. The stressful force of clenching causes pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. This can lead to jaw joint disorders, jaw pain and soreness, headaches, earaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. These symptoms are often collectively referred to as "TMJ" or temperomandibular joint problems.
Many people who clench also grind their teeth. Grinding is when you slide your teeth over each other, generally in a sideways, back-and-forth movement. This action may wear down your teeth and be noisy enough at night to bother sleeping partners. Like clenching, grinding can lead to jaw pain and other problems.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
People can clench and grind subconsciously during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control.
The cause of bruxism is not completely agreed upon, but daily stress may be the trigger in many people. Some people probably clench and never feel symptoms. Whether or not bruxism causes pain and other problems may be a complicated mix of factors - how much stress you are under, how long and tightly you clench and grind, whether your teeth are misaligned, your posture, ability to relax, diet, sleeping habits, and other factors. Each person is probably different.
Symptoms
- Teeth grinding, which may be loud enough to annoy sleeping partners
- Sore or painful jaw
- Headache
- Earache (partly because the structures of the temperomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal, and partly because of referred muscle pain - pain that is perceived in a location different from its actual source)
- Anxiety, stress, and tension
- Insomnia, depression, eating disorders
Signs and tests
An examination can rule out other disorders that may cause similar jaw pain or ear pain, including ear disorders such as ear infections, problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) itself, and dental disorders. The person may have a history of significant stress and tension.
Treatment
The goals of treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth, and reduce clenching behaviors as much as possible.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
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