Try to take a moment to notice how tense you are: your shoulders are tight, your facial muscles are strained, and your teeth are clenched and grinding against each other. Is this a normal state, and why do people clench their jaws so tightly?
Teeth clenching is a medical condition known as bruxism. For some people, it can cause serious problems such as headaches, jaw discomfort, and tooth damage. But why do we clench our teeth so tightly, and is it always related to stress?
According to specialists, there are two types of bruxism: awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. As the names suggest, awake bruxism is when people clench their teeth while conscious, while sleep bruxism is when they grind their teeth during sleep. The main contributing factor to the development of bruxism is quite obvious: stress and anxiety. However, other factors can also influence the occurrence of this condition. Among the most significant is the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant.
Smoking, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, as well as acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also increase the risk of developing bruxism. Despite suggestions that sleep apnea (breathing cessation during sleep) increases the likelihood of bruxism, a 2020 review found no convincing link between these phenomena.
Bruxism is a fairly common condition. According to data from the Mayo Clinic, about one-third of adults experience awake bruxism, while 1 in 10 experience it during sleep. For many of these individuals, the condition is not associated with serious health problems. However, for some, bruxism can cause neck and jaw pain, headaches, gum recession, and tooth damage, which may require crowns or extractions. These symptoms are more commonly associated with sleep bruxism rather than what occurs while awake.
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