Bruxism & Teeth Grinding

If you wake up with a tight jaw, a dull headache, or teeth that feel sensitive for no clear reason, bruxism — grinding or clenching, often during sleep — may be the cause. It's common, frequently overlooked, and very manageable once identified.

Bruxism is the involuntary grinding of teeth or clenching of the jaw, often happening during sleep without you realizing it. Over time, it can cause jaw pain and damage to teeth.

Signs of bruxism

• Disrupted sleep
• Morning headaches or facial pain
• Earaches
• Sore jaw muscles or pain when eating
• Painful or loose teeth

Bruxism doesn't have one single cause — it's usually a combination of factors. Common contributors include stress and anxiety, certain medications (particularly some antidepressants), alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, and sleep disorders — sleep apnea in particular is closely linked to nighttime grinding. Family history plays a role too; bruxism often runs in families.

Left unaddressed, bruxism can wear down or fracture teeth over time, sometimes requiring significant restorative dental work. It can also lead to enlarged jaw muscles, chronic jaw pain, and — over years — contribute to the development of TMJ disorders. And because grinding is often loudest and most active during sleep, it frequently disrupts rest for both the person grinding and anyone sharing a bed with them.

A standard night guard protects your teeth from the effects of grinding, but it doesn't address why you're grinding in the first place. As a board-certified orofacial pain specialist, Dr. Kruman evaluates whether your bruxism is being driven by airway issues, stress, or a combination — and builds a treatment plan around the actual cause, not just a mouthguard prescribed without that context.

Nighttime grinding is increasingly understood as the brain's response to a partially blocked airway during sleep — so bruxism and sleep apnea often travel together and are worth evaluating as a pair.

Clicking, popping, or a jaw that locks can signal something further along — TMJ disorders — and is worth an evaluation.

Custom oral appliances, and in more involved cases, therapeutic injections.