by Malavi Sivakanesan • 19 October 2023 • 6 min read
As most rest soundly at night, a hidden habit affects countless sleepers: teeth clenching. The condition is medically called bruxism. Typically driven by stress, subconscious habits, and a few other factors, the consequences of this seemingly innocuous act can extend beyond the mouth to impact overall health and well-being. Teeth clenching can occur at any time of day or night but is more common during sleep. In fact, research suggests that up to one in five adults will experience it at some point in their lives. While the precise reason is unknown, it is frequently linked to everyday stress, serious concentration, anxiety, misaligned teeth, and certain lifestyle habits. Before we go further, it’s worth pausing to clear up a simple but important point: Teeth clenching is not the same as teeth grinding. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the condition and its impact.
The Differences between Teeth Clenching and Teeth Grinding
| Characteristics | Teeth Grinding | Teeth Clenching |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Involuntary or excessive grinding or gnashing of the teeth | Involuntary or excessive holding of the teeth |
| Jaw movement | Yes | No |
| Tooth Wear | Yes | Less obvious |
| Other symptoms | Jaw Pain, earaches, headaches, damaged teeth | Jaw pain, headaches and earaches |
| Treatment | Mouthguard, stress management, biofeedback | Mouthguard, stress management, biofeedback |
Understanding Teeth Clenching
Clenching teeth is different from simply biting down on food. It’s a prolonged tightening of the jaw muscles that often happens without awareness. Unlike grinding, which involves movement and friction between the teeth, clenching is more about applying constant pressure.
The pressure of clenching can overload the teeth and jaw joints. There might not be obvious signs or wear at first. Many people only realise they clench when they notice morning jaw stiffness, tension headaches, or their dentist spots subtle changes in the teeth. Because it can be silent and gradual, clenching is easy to overlook until symptoms build up.
Signs that You are Clenching Your Teeth
Those who clench their teeth tend to be unaware of the habit. Here are a few signs you can notice if you are unconsciously clenching your teeth:
- Waking up with a sore jaw
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Sensitive teeth
- Worn-down teeth
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Face or neck pain
- Disturbed sleep
Causes of Teeth Clenching
The exact cause of teeth clenching is not fully understood. However, it is believed to involve a combination of physical, psychological and lifestyle factors, including:
- Anxiety and Stress: One of the primary triggers for teeth clenching is stress and high stress levels can lead to muscle tension, which can result in the teeth grinding.
- Malocclusion: When your teeth are misaligned, it can lead to an abnormal bite pattern. This misalignment can cause you to clench your teeth in an attempt to find a comfortable resting position.
- Sleep disorder: Certain sleep disorders like sleep apnea, can be associated with teeth clenching. This is the body’s attempt to maintain an open airway during sleep can lead to clenching.
- Lifestyle factors: certain habits like caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, and smoking can contribute to teeth clenching.
- Medication: Some medications, particularly those that treat psychiatric disorders, can lead to teeth grinding as a side effect.
- Genetics: Teeth clenching can run in the families and certain genes may make you more likely to develop it.
- Tobacco: Tobacco can stimulate effects on the nervous system, potentially increasing muscle tension and leading to teeth clenching.
Treatment for Teeth Clenching
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for teeth clenching. The best treatment for you will depend on the underlying cause of your clenching. Treatment options may include:
- Stress management: If stress or anxiety is causing you to clench your teeth, learning stress management techniques can help. This may include relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation.
- Mouth guard: A mouth guard is a custom-made appliance that is worn over your teeth at night to protect them from grinding and clenching.
- Medication: If your teeth clenching is caused by a medical condition, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the underlying condition.
- Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that can help you learn to control your subconscious muscle activity. This can be helpful for people with teeth clenching who are not able to control it consciously. It is a relatively new therapy for teeth clenching and shows positive outcomes.
- Dental correction: In cases where misalignment is a contributing factor, orthodontic treatment or dental adjustments may be recommended.
Tips to Prevent Teeth Clenching
There are a few things you can do to help prevent teeth clenching:
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.
- Manage stress levels.
- Get enough sleep.
- Make dental checkups and cleanings a part of your routine healthcare.
Conclusion
Teeth clenching can have serious consequences for both dental health and overall health. Recognising the causes and consequences of bruxism is the first step toward effective therapy.
If you feel you’re clenching your teeth, you can receive expert care at a Complete Smiles clinic. Our experienced dentists and dental specialists can provide you with tailored advice and treatment options. In case there are other medical issues causing your teeth to clench, our dentists can coordinate with your GP to design an effective treatment plan.
Complete Smiles provides specialist orthodontic treatments to fix teeth misalignment that might be causing your teeth to clench. Call us to get more information and book an appointment. The sooner you address the issue, the less damage your teeth will undergo.
Malavi Sivakanesan
Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.