what causes teeth grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition in which a person grinds, gnashes, or clenches their teeth unconsciously. Teeth grinding can occur during the day or at night while sleeping. The exact cause of teeth grinding is not always clear, but it is often linked to stress and anxiety, which is the most common cause of teeth grinding. Other causes of teeth grinding include sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnea, taking certain medications, 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, and it often stops when they reach adulthood and their adult teeth have come through. Symptoms of teeth grinding include headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain, aching teeth, particularly just after waking up, aching and/or stiffness of the face and temples just after waking up, aching or stiffness in the jaws while chewing, particularly during breakfast, clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating, temperature-sensitive teeth, cracked or chipped tooth enamel, tooth indentations on the tongue, raised tissue on the inside of the cheek caused by biting, and loose teeth. Treatment for teeth grinding may include finding ways to relax, such as doing breathing exercises, listening to music, and taking regular exercise, avoiding chewing gum or eating hard foods if you have tooth or jaw pain, and wearing a plastic mouthguard at night to absorb the pressure of grinding.