Do you grind your teeth at night? Here's what to do

"Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, occurs both during the day (awake bruxism) and at night (sleep bruxism). Sleep bruxism is generally harder to detect because, well, we're asleep. People are usually unaware of the condition, says Dr Subha Giri, a dental sleep medicine expert at the Mayo Clinic. Instead, she says, night-time teeth grinders may be alerted by caregivers or bed partners who hear grating, tapping or clicking sounds."

"What is sleep bruxism? Sleep bruxism is an involuntary jaw-muscle activity such as grinding, clenching or jaw thrusting that occurs while we sleep, says Dr Hosam Alraqiq, program director of the Dental Public Health Research Fellowship at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. If this happens regularly, it can damage teeth. The condition is more common during childhood and adolescence, when prevalence ranges from 14% to 18%, as opposed to 8% among adults, explains Giri."

"Experts aren't sure what exactly causes sleep bruxism, but it tends to be more common in people with a family history of the condition, which suggests there is a genetic link, says Dr Michelle Drerup, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Cleveland Clinic. It is also more likely to appear in individuals with medical conditions like sleep apnea, Parkinson's disease, dementia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd), she says."

Sleep bruxism is involuntary jaw-muscle activity during sleep that includes grinding, clenching, or jaw thrusting and can damage teeth if frequent. Night-time bruxism is often undetected by sleepers; caregivers or bed partners may notice grating, tapping, or clicking sounds. Prevalence is higher in childhood and adolescence (14–18%) than in adults (about 8%). Causes remain uncertain but familial patterns suggest a genetic component. Sleep bruxism is associated with medical conditions such as sleep apnea, Parkinson's disease, dementia, and GERD. Additional risk factors include stress, anxiety, alcohol use, smoking, excess caffeine, and certain medications like SSRIs and antipsychotics.

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