Do you grind your teeth at night? Here’s what to do

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here's What to Do

For millions of people, a typical night's sleep is filled with a gentle snore or soft snores. But for around 8% of adults, it's not so relaxing. They're grinding their teeth like an NFL coach whose team is behind in overtime, unaware that they do.

Sleep bruxism, the medical term for nighttime teeth grinding, occurs both during the day and at night. It can be difficult to detect because we're asleep, but if you're one of the 8% who experience it, there are ways to identify the problem and find a solution.

Dr. Subha Giri, a dental sleep medicine expert at the Mayo Clinic, explains that people are usually unaware of their condition. However, caregivers or bed partners may notice signs such as grating, tapping, or clicking sounds while they sleep.

So, what is sleep bruxism? It's an involuntary jaw-muscle activity, like grinding, clenching, or jaw thrusting, that occurs while we're asleep. This can cause damage to our teeth and lead to a range of problems, including chipped or cracked teeth, tooth sensitivity, TMJ disorder, and disrupted sleep quality.

But why does it happen? The exact causes are still unknown, but research suggests that there may be a genetic link, with people more likely to develop the condition if their parents have had it. Other risk factors include stress, anxiety, alcohol use, smoking, excessive caffeine, certain medications like SSRIs and antipsychotics, and even sleep apnea or Parkinson's disease.

So, how can you tell if you have sleep bruxism? You may not be aware of the problem yourself, but your dentist or doctor might notice signs such as patterns of tooth wear or symptoms like waking up with a clenched jaw or chronic pain. The gold standard for diagnosis is a sleep study, which monitors brain and body activity while you're asleep.

But what impact does sleep bruxism have on our health? In some cases, it's not serious, but in more severe instances, it can cause significant damage to our teeth, including chipped or cracked surfaces, tooth sensitivity, TMJ disorder, and disrupted sleep quality. This is because grinding your teeth at night can exert a force of up to 250 pounds on your jaw and face.

So, what's the treatment for sleep bruxism? Mild cases may not require treatment, but more serious instances where symptoms are causing discomfort or problems often need professional help. Dentists can make custom nightguards that protect our teeth from damage, while relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and stress management can also be effective in managing the condition.

In severe cases, healthcare providers might recommend botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to relax jaw muscles temporarily and reduce pain. And if you're sharing a bed with someone who grinds their teeth at night, giving them some nice earplugs probably wouldn't hurt either. After all, it's better to get some rest without the added noise of grinding teeth.

I'm so guilty of this! I used to grind my teeth at night and wake up with headaches . It wasn't until one of my kids pointed out that my jaw was clenched every morning that I realized what I was doing . Now I've invested in a custom nightguard and it's been a game changer . I still get stressed about work and stuff, but at least my teeth are safe . Anyone else have this issue? How did you find a solution?

I'm so done with these forums anyway lol , but seriously, have you ever noticed how hard it is to get a good night's sleep? I mean, I know 8% of adults deal with sleep bruxism, which is just crazy . And now they're telling us that stress and anxiety might be the culprits behind it? Like, no kidding . I swear, our bodies are like complex machines with so many moving parts... and we're all just trying to survive without grinding our teeth into oblivion . And don't even get me started on the treatment options – Botox injections? Who comes up with this stuff? Just give us some good ol' fashioned nightguards and let us sleep in peace .

omg u guys I just read this article about sleep bruxism & it's like super common but nobody knows they have it lol 8% of adults grind their teeth at night no wonder I always wake up w/ a sore jaw what I found really interesting is that stress, anxiety & certain meds can be contributing factors so maybe we should all try to chill out before bed? also i saw the treatment for it involves making custom nightguards & relaxation techniques which sounds like a total game changer

omg, i feel like i'm one of those 8% lol... my jaw is literally shot from grinding my teeth so hard during the day . anyway, sleep bruxism sounds super annoying and frustrating... i mean who wants to wake up with a sore jaw or sensitive teeth? guess it's not just me being dramatic about a good night's sleep . but seriously, what's up with all these medications that can cause stress and anxiety which then leads to grinding teeth at night? shouldn't we be aware of those potential side effects before popping those pills? . and btw, who knew botox could help with jaw pain? sounds like a weird solution but i guess it's better than living with the discomfort .

omg i grind my teeth so much at nite lol been noticing my dentist has been lookin at me funny for ages like i dont even realize im doin it now anyway if u r 1 of those unlucky ppl who grinds ur teeth while u sleep, u gotta get it checked out ASAP! its not just about the pain and discomfort, but also cuz it can damage ur teeth and jaw muscles stress and anxiety are major triggers for me so i def try to chill out before bed anyway, just wanted 2 share

If u grind ur teeth @ nite its probs cuz ur stressed out or anxious lol like me! u cant even realize u're doing it bc u're asleep but ur body is still tryin to find ways 2 release tension, whether thats clenching ur jaw or grinding ur teeth. and yeah it can b pretty serious if ur not careful, damage 2 ur teeth, tooth sensitivity, tmj disorder... its like, why didnt i think of dis?!

anywayz, idk how much research has been done on this but its def clear dat stress & anxiety r major contributors. and yeah, genetics play a role too, so if ur parents had it, u might be more prone 2 gettin it 2 . but honestly, its not all doom & gloom! there r treatments out there, like custom nightguards, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy... and in severe cases, botox injections or earplugs 4 ur bedmate lol

I think it's kinda weird that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and still manage to grind our teeth like there's no tomorrow It's not exactly easy to notice yourself doing it, but if someone you live with can hear the sounds they're making while they sleep, that's a major red flag I mean, we all know how stressful life can be, especially when it comes to things like finances and relationships But honestly, it just seems so... unnecessary Like, why do we need to grind our teeth in the first place?

Grinding your teeth at night? Yeah, I've been there too . It's like your brain is trying to process a Netflix show on 10x speed while your body's just chillin' . Stress and anxiety can be major culprits, but I think it's also about finding that sweet spot between relaxation and relaxation . My fave tip from the Mayo Clinic is that custom nightguards can be like having a personal bodyguard for your teeth . And, let's be real, Botox injections might sound crazy, but hey, if it works, right?

grinding your teeth at night is way more common than people think and it can actually cause some pretty nasty problems like chipped or cracked teeth , tooth sensitivity, and even TMJ disorder . i'm not surprised that stress & anxiety are major risk factors - have you ever woken up with a sore jaw or a mouthful of pain? 250 pounds of pressure on your jaw is no joke! so yeah, if you're grinding your teeth at night, it's time to get checked out by a dentist and talk about some solutions like custom nightguards or relaxation techniques. and btw, earplugs for bed partners are a genius idea .