Teeth Grinding and Clenching: Bruxism Explained
Teeth grinding and clenching, called bruxism, is jaw-muscle activity during sleep or while awake. This page, for anyone who grinds or clenches, covers the two forms, signs you can check, linked factors, effects on teeth and fillings, management, and when to see a dentist or GP. A mouth guard or splint made by a dentist protects the teeth rather than stopping the grinding.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist and a General Dental Practitioner (GDC 301711), reviewed this page. He holds a BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds) and postgraduate qualifications in implant, restorative and aesthetic dentistry.
What is teeth grinding (bruxism)?
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is repetitive jaw-muscle activity: clenching or grinding the teeth, or bracing or thrusting the lower jaw. An international expert consensus agreed this definition in 2013.
The consensus's 2025 update describes bruxism as a behaviour rather than a disorder. It can raise the risk of some dental and jaw problems, may be protective, or may be neutral, so experts assess it together with its effects rather than diagnosing it.
How do sleep bruxism and awake bruxism differ?
Sleep bruxism happens during sleep and awake bruxism while you are awake; the 2025 consensus defines each:
- Sleep bruxism is jaw-muscle activity during sleep, either rhythmic or non-rhythmic, and is neither a movement disorder nor a sleep disorder.
- Awake bruxism is repeated or sustained tooth contact, or bracing or thrusting the jaw, while you are awake, and is not a movement disorder. A 2026 review notes that people often seek help for its effects without knowing they clench.
How can you tell if you grind your teeth?
Bruxism is assessed from what you report, signs found on examination, and devices that record jaw-muscle activity, the 2025 consensus explains. Only the devices measure the activity directly.
Signs you can check yourself
For daytime clenching, the 2018 consensus suggests noting each evening, for 1 to 2 weeks, whether you held your teeth together that day; for sleep grinding, a bed partner can note whether they hear it. Besides a painful jaw, the NHS lists these symptoms:
- worn-down or broken teeth, which can cause increased sensitivity, and loss of teeth and fillings
- headaches, earache and disturbed sleep
The NHS advises seeing a dentist if you grind your teeth and have tooth damage, sensitive teeth or pain in your jaw, face or ear, if your partner says you grind your teeth in your sleep, or if you're worried about your child grinding their teeth.
How is bruxism assessed?
In general, examination signs in the 2018 consensus include enlarged jaw muscles (masseter hypertrophy), indentations on the tongue or lip, a white line inside the cheek, and possibly tooth-to-tooth wear (attrition), such as matching wear facets on opposing teeth. It cautions that the soft-tissue signs can also come from normal activity such as swallowing, and the 2025 update notes that tooth wear may reflect past grinding.
What causes teeth grinding?
It is not always clear what causes teeth grinding, the NHS says, but it is often linked to:
- stress and anxiety, which the NHS calls the most common cause
- sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea
- taking medicines for sleep problems, depression or anxiety
- smoking, and drinking lots of alcohol or caffeine
Reviews link the two forms with different factors. A 2026 review says current knowledge suggests how often people clench while awake is largely associated with their degree of psychological distress, especially anxiety and depression. Sleep bruxism is more common in people with several sleep-related disorders, including obstructive sleep apnoea, a 2022 systematic review found; sleep arousal may be a factor common to most of them, but the specific mechanisms could not be identified. For sleep apnoea the evidence conflicts: a 2024 meta-analysis of 14 mostly low-quality studies found no higher odds of sleep bruxism in people with sleep apnoea.
The NHS advises seeing 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.
To ask about teeth grinding, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
What can grinding do to teeth and restorations?
Grinding can damage teeth and dental work, although the 2025 consensus notes bruxism can also be neutral. The 2018 consensus lists cracked teeth, repeated failure of fillings, crowns or other restorations, and mechanical tooth wear among its possible signs.
Grinding is one cause of tooth wear, a gradual loss of tooth surface that can continue over time; our page on worn teeth describes how worn teeth look. Separate pages cover composite bonding and grinding and dental implants and teeth grinding.
The NHS advises seeing a dentist if you grind your teeth and have tooth damage, sensitive teeth or pain in your jaw, face or ear, if your partner says you grind your teeth in your sleep, or if you're worried about your child grinding their teeth.
How is teeth grinding managed?
Treatment for teeth grinding is not always needed, the NHS says. The 2025 consensus suggests managing harmful effects where present, without compromising any potential benefit, and treating any disorder that bruxism signals where medically indicated.
A mouth guard or splint made by a dentist protects the teeth: the NHS says these are worn at night to protect your teeth from damage, and can be made to fit precisely over the upper or lower teeth. A 2007 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence that splints are effective for treating sleep bruxism, though there may be some benefit for tooth wear; our page on protecting your teeth at night covers that evidence and how night guards are made.
For daytime clenching, a 2026 systematic review of nine small studies found limited evidence, all of low or very low certainty, suggesting benefits from behavioural approaches such as reminders, biofeedback and habit reversal. In one small study of an ear-worn feedback device, 5 of 7 people stopped treatment.
When should you see a GP about sleep apnoea?
See a GP if you have any of the main symptoms of sleep apnoea, the NHS advises. These include your breathing stopping and starting while you sleep, gasping, snorting or choking noises while you sleep, or always feeling very tired during the day. Bringing someone who has seen your symptoms can help. Waking with a headache is also a symptom, and the NHS says sleep apnoea can be serious if it is not diagnosed and treated.
Frequently asked questions
Can stress make you grind your teeth?
Yes, the NHS says stress and anxiety are the most common cause of teeth grinding. But the 2018 consensus cautions that self-reported grinding may reflect distress rather than actual jaw-muscle activity. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you need help with causes such as stress, anxiety, smoking, drinking too much or taking drugs.
How do you stop grinding your teeth at night?
The NHS lists steps that may help reduce grinding. Find ways to relax, go to bed at the same time each night, keep your bedroom dark and quiet, do not smoke, and avoid too much alcohol or caffeine. A mouth guard or splint made by a dentist protects the teeth rather than stopping the grinding.
What helps jaw pain from clenching?
The NHS suggests paracetamol or ibuprofen, a wrapped ice pack for 20 to 30 minutes, and no gum or hard foods. It advises seeing a dentist if you grind and have tooth damage, sensitive teeth or jaw, face or ear pain, if your partner says you grind in your sleep, or if you're worried about your child grinding.
Is it normal to clench your teeth sometimes?
Some jaw-muscle activity is expected. A 2026 review reports that recordings show a certain amount of bruxism-type activity can be expected in everyone, and that its clinical relevance is related to how often and how intensely it happens. The 2018 consensus advises against fixed cut-off points for deciding who has bruxism in otherwise healthy people.
Can a sleep study show whether you grind your teeth?
Yes, if it records jaw-muscle activity. The 2018 consensus says recordings of jaw-muscle activity during sleep provide key evidence of sleep bruxism, and audio or video can be added. If you have any of the main symptoms of sleep apnoea, the NHS advises seeing a GP, who may refer you for sleep apnoea tests.
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