Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Teeth grinding (also called bruxism) is often related to stress or anxiety. There are things you can do to help and treatments available from a dentist or GP.
This page is based on the advice at NHS Teeth Grinding
Symptoms of teeth grinding
Teeth grinding can happen while you're awake or asleep.
As well as grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, other symptoms can include:
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face, neck and shoulder pain
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a painful jaw, which can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
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worn-down or broken teeth, which can cause increased sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings
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headaches
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earache
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disturbed sleep
Book an appointment with us:
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you grind your teeth and have tooth damage or sensitive teeth
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you grind your teeth and have pain in your jaw, face or ear
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your partner says you're grinding your teeth in your sleep
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you're worried about your child grinding their teeth
See a GP if you need help with some of the causes of teeth grinding, such as stress, anxiety, smoking, drinking too much or taking drugs.
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Causes of teeth grinding
It's not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth.
It's often linked to:
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stress and anxiety – this is the most common cause of teeth grinding
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sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea
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taking certain medicines, including a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
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smoking, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine, and taking drugs like ecstasy and cocaine
Teeth grinding is common in children and teenagers, particularly during sleep. It often stops when they reach adulthood and their adult teeth have come through.
How to reduce teeth grinding
Do
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find ways to relax – for example, by doing breathing exercises, listening to music and taking regular exercise
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try to improve your sleep by going to bed at the same time every night, relaxing before bedtime and making sure your bedroom is dark and quiet
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take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have jaw pain or swelling
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use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel for 20 to 30 minutes to help reduce jaw pain or swelling
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have regular dental check-ups
​​Don’t
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do not smoke
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do not drink too much alcohol
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do not take drugs like ecstasy or cocaine
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do not chew gum or eat hard foods if you have tooth or jaw pain
For patients who do not require emergency treatment please apply for registration and we will aim to get back to you as soon as possible within practice hours.
Outside practice hours please call NHS 111 or get help from 111 online