3 Facts About Teeth Grinding

Dr. Thomas Bursich • March 18, 2021

Teeth grinding is a serious issue that plagues many adults and even children and teens. While you may be aware that you do it during the day (hello stressful situations), you may not be aware if it is happening overnight. 


Here are three facts about teeth grinding.


1 - It has several root causes

Some people think that teeth grinding is just caused by stress but that is not the case. Teeth grinding can be caused by any of the following:


  • Certain medications like antidepressants or antipsychotics
  • Excessive coffee or alcohol consumption
  • Stress, anxiety, or depression
  • ADHD, especially for children and teenagers
  • Sleep apnea
  • Genetics
  • Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease


There are a lot of serious root causes, so before pursuing a night guard or temporary fix for teeth grinding, it is important to figure out if there is something going on. 


2 - It affects a lot

Teeth grinding can cause a lot of pain and damage as well as things unrelated to your mouth. For example, teeth grinding leads to:



  • Pain in your teeth or face
  • Increased cavities or tooth decay
  • Gum recession
  • Premature teeth aging
  • Migraines
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • More stress
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Sleep apnea


It is important to pay attention if you are experiencing any of these things or combination of them as it could be an indication that you grind your teeth at night.   


3 - It can be improved by a night guard

A night guard, or a mouth guard worn at night, is a tool many dentists use to help with teeth grinding. It helps protect the tooth enamel from potential damage done while grinding, especially the molars. It can also reduce the amount of jaw pain you experience. 


If you have mild teeth grinding, we usually recommend a soft night guard that will be custom fit and last for about six months. If you have severe teeth grinding, we recommend a dual laminate night guard which lasts a lot longer.


Teeth grinding can be a really inconvenient nightly occurrence. Contact us today if you suspect you’re grinding your teeth or if you wake up with mouth pain for a consultation!