Teeth Grinding & Jaw Clenching
Bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term for grinding or clenching your teeth. Awake bruxism is usually a stress-related clench during the day; sleep bruxism is rhythmic grinding during light sleep. Both are commonly tied to an activated nervous system.
What bruxism means
Bruxism covers two related behaviours: clenching, a static forceful holding of the teeth together, and grinding, a rhythmic movement of the teeth against each other. It is divided into awake bruxism and sleep bruxism, which have different patterns and triggers.
The word itself simply names the behaviour. It is not a diagnosis of a disease so much as a description of what the jaw is doing.
Why it happens
Stress and anxiety are among the most consistent factors linked with bruxism, because an aroused nervous system keeps the jaw muscles primed. Other contributors include certain medications, caffeine and alcohol, and sleep-related factors.
This is why bruxism sits comfortably in a nervous-system frame: the jaw is expressing tension the body is carrying.
When to see a dentist
Because bruxism can wear teeth, crack fillings, and cause jaw pain and headaches, it has a dental dimension as well as a stress one. A dentist can check for damage and offer a guard to protect the teeth.
Managing the stress behind it and protecting the teeth from it are two halves of the same job, and doing only one of them tends to leave the problem half-solved.
Sources & further reading
The reputable organizations our editorial team draws on for the anatomy, definitions, and safety guidance behind this page, and where you can read more on each topic.
General educational information about stress and the nervous system. Not medical, dental, or psychological advice, and not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified professional.