Your body does plenty of things without you even realising – some are helpful (like your heart pumping blood, for example), and some are not so helpful. If your teeth are clenching, or grinding – which typically happens during sleep – it could cause jaw and teeth problems down the track.

While lots of people grind their teeth occasionally, if it’s done regularly and intensely, it’s considered a significant issue. Dentist Dr Adam Alford from Bupa Dental Brisbane says teeth grinding can mean lots of trips to the dentist, as well as other challenges.

“Your quality of life can be reduced with chronic pain and discomfort in the teeth, headaches, muscular pain and ear aches,” he says.

Why do we grind?

There are lots of causes when it comes to teeth grinding. The cause can be physical – including sleep disorders or for people living with certain illnesses such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s, dementia and reflux – or psychological, such as anxiety or stress. Dental issues including missing or crooked teeth, or fillings that are too high, are also known causes. Other factors include taking certain medications, such as antidepressants, or using recreational drugs.

What are the symptoms?

Because people often don’t know they’re grinding their teeth, the problem may be first noticed by a partner who hears the grinding noises or, much later, by a dentist when damage to teeth presents.

“I suggest patients try and catch themselves clenching and grinding during the day,” advises dentist Dr Adam Alford. “If patients regularly clench during the day then more than likely they clench and grind at night.”

Other symptoms to look out for include:

• Aching sensations in the ears, neck, head, face, teeth or jaw (especially when eating breakfast)
• Disrupted sleep (for you or your partner)
• Teeth sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods
• Broken, loose teeth or fillings
• Evidence of biting inside the mouth, such as raised tissue inside the cheek, or tooth indentations on the tongue.

Learn more about jaw problems here.

Ways to stop jaw clenching

There isn’t a cure for teeth grinding, but there are ways to manage it.

As well as repairing any damage, addressing the underlying issue is important, Dr Alford says – which is why he refers patients to specialists to rule out sleep apnoea and other physical-health risk factors. To reduce the impact of grinding, he recommends a teeth grinding guard be worn at night to protect teeth – which your dentist can help with.

As far as psychological risk factors go, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can be helpful. Stress management strategies such as exercise, relaxation techniques and good sleep hygiene may also improve teeth grinding.

If you have pain as a result, Dr Alford has a number of strategies to help.

“Specialised physiotherapists for head and neck issues can reduce muscular pain, and train patients with a series of exercises to help reduce the inflammation in the muscles and joints,” he says. “I have patients who see osteopaths, chiropractors and massage therapists as well.”

Talk to a dentist near you

We’re here to help. If you think you might be grinding your teeth, see a Bupa Dentist for advice.