Bruxism/teeth grinding

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Doctors don't completely understand what causes bruxism. Possible physical or psychological causes may include:

  • Anxiety, stress or tension
  • Suppressed anger or frustration
  • Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type
  • Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
  • Other sleep problems
  • Response to pain from an earache or teething (in children)
  • Complication resulting from a disorder, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease
  • An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, including certain antidepressants
Risk factors Symptoms
References
  1. Nowak AJ, et al. Oral habits and orofacial development. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 13, 2011.
  2. What is bruxism? Academy of General Dentistry. http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=w&iid=292&aid=1137. Accessed Jan. 27, 2011.
  3. ADA Division of Communications. For the dental patient ... do you grind your teeth? Journal of the American Dental Association. 2005;136:559.
  4. Kato T. Sleep bruxism: A sleep-related movement disorder. Sleep Medicine Clinic. 2010;5:9.
  5. Lobbezoo F. Principles for the management of bruxism. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2008;35:509.
DS00337 May 19, 2011

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