Bruxism

Some people grind or clench their teeth.

They might do this while they sleep. They can also do it while they are awake.

This can make your teeth feel sore. It can even make your jaw ache. You might get a headache, too.

Grinding can wear your teeth down. This can make your teeth sensitive to cold drinks.

Some people do not even know they are doing it. They might only find out if a partner hears them.

It is a common habit for many people. Do you ever grind your teeth?

Some people grind or clench their teeth. This is called bruxism. It is not like eating or talking. It is a habit that happens on its own.

There are two main types. One happens while you sleep. This is called nocturnal bruxism. The other happens while you are awake. This is called awake bruxism. Women tend to have awake bruxism more often. Men and women are affected equally during sleep.

Many people do not know they do this. They might only find out if a partner hears a noise. This noise can be loud.

Bruxism can cause many problems. It can make your jaw muscles ache. It can also cause headaches. Your teeth might feel sensitive to cold drinks. This happens because the hard outer layer wears away. This wear is called attrition.

If teeth wear down too much, the tooth can break. It can even wear away completely. The muscles that move your jaw can also get tired. This can feel like pain after exercise.

Bruxism is a term for when people grind or clench their teeth too much. This is not a normal part of eating or talking. Instead, it is a habit that happens on its own. Many people do not even know they are doing it. They might only find out if a partner hears a loud grinding noise during the night.

This habit can cause many different problems for the mouth and face. It can lead to aching jaw muscles or even headaches. Some people feel pain in their temples or near their ears. It can also make teeth feel very sensitive to cold liquids.

There are two main ways this happens. The first type is called nocturnal bruxism, which occurs while you sleep. The second type is called awake bruxism, which happens while you are awake. The symptoms for these two types often feel different. For sleep bruxism, the pain is usually strongest right when you wake up. It often feels better as the day goes on. For awake bruxism, the symptoms might not be there when you wake up. Instead, they can get worse as the day passes.

Scientists are still studying why this happens to people. They do not fully understand the causes yet. We do know that different groups of people are affected in different ways. For example, awake bruxism is more common in women. However, men and women are affected equally by sleep bruxism. Children can also experience this habit. In fact, sleep bruxism can start as early as the first year of life. This happens right after the first teeth erupt into the mouth.

Researchers have gathered many facts about how common bruxism is. A study from 2024 found that the global prevalence is 22.22%. This means about 22 out of every 100 people have it. Sleep bruxism is found in 21% of people globally. Awake bruxism is found in 23% of people. In North America, sleep bruxism is seen in 31% of people. In South America, awake bruxism is highest at 30%. These numbers can change depending on how researchers define the habit.

If left alone, bruxism can change the shape of your teeth. This constant rubbing causes a type of wear called attrition. Attrition flattens the biting surfaces of the teeth. It can also wear away the hard enamel that protects the tooth. Once the enamel is gone, the softer dentin is exposed. This makes the tooth more likely to decay or break. The strong muscles that move your jaw, like the masseter, can also get tired. This muscle fatigue can feel a lot like soreness after heavy exercise.

Bruxism is a medical term for excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching. This behavior is known as a parafunctional activity. This means it is not part of normal functions like eating or talking. It is a very common behavior across the globe. A 2024 meta-analysis found the global prevalence of bruxism is 22.22%. This figure includes both people who grind while sleeping and those who grind while awake. Many people do not even realize they have this condition. They often only discover it because of its physical effects.

There are two primary types of bruxism. The first is nocturnal bruxism, which occurs during sleep. The second is awake bruxism, which occurs during wakefulness. These two types often show different symptom patterns. For nocturnal bruxism, symptoms are usually most intense immediately after waking. These feelings tend to abate or lessen during the day. In contrast, awake bruxism may not show symptoms at all upon waking. Instead, the symptoms of awake bruxism often worsen as the day progresses.

Bruxism affects the muscles of mastication, which are the muscles used for chewing. These include the masseter, the temporalis, and the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles.

When these muscles are used excessively, they can experience hypertrophy. This means the muscles actually increase in size. People may also feel tenderness, pain, or fatigue in these muscles. This sensation can feel very similar to muscle soreness after heavy exercise. Some people may even experience trismus, which is a restriction in how wide they can open their mouth. This puts significant strain on the entire jaw system.

The teeth and the jaw joints can also suffer damage. One common result is attrition, which is wear caused by tooth-to-tooth contact. This wear flattens the occlusal surface, or the biting surface, of the teeth. Another possible type of wear is abfraction. This involves V-shaped defects near the gumline caused by the flexing of the tooth. If the hard enamel wears away, the softer dentin layer becomes exposed. This can lead to hypersensitivity, where cold liquids cause pain.

In severe cases, the teeth may even fracture or wear down completely.

Researchers have studied how bruxism affects different groups of people. The data can vary because of how different studies define the condition. However, some clear patterns have emerged. Awake bruxism is thought to be more common in women. For sleep bruxism, men and women are affected in equal proportions. Interestingly, children can experience bruxism just as often as adults. Sleep bruxism can start as early as the first year of life. This happens once the deciduous incisors, or baby teeth, erupt into the mouth. In infants, the prevalence of sleep bruxism may be over 50%.

Specific numbers help show how bruxism is distributed around the world. The global prevalence of sleep bruxism is 21%. The prevalence of awake bruxism is slightly higher at 23%. In North America, the prevalence of sleep bruxism is 31%. This is the highest observed in that category. In South America, awake bruxism is the highest at 30%. In Asia, the prevalence of awake bruxism is 25%. In Europe, it is 18%. These statistics show that while the habit is global, it varies by region and type.

Bruxism also has connections to other dental and health issues. Some researchers study its link to temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD. TMD involves pain in the joints that connect the jaw to the skull. While some suggest sleep bruxism might contribute to TMD, the relationship is still debated. The forces from grinding can also affect the periodontal ligament. This is the tissue that holds teeth in place. Excessive force may cause inflammation in this ligament. This can lead to tooth soreness or even increased tooth mobility.