Bruxism is characterized by an unconscious tendency to grind and/or clench your teeth. It can cause significant damage to the teeth, as well as leave your jaw, face, and even head sore and achy. Although bruxism can be managed, different causes may require different treatment techniques. Here’s a look at the causes of bruxism.
Sleep vs. Awake Bruxism
Grinding your teeth during the day is called awake, or diurnal, bruxism, while engaging in this gritting or gnashing of the jaw at night is considered sleep bruxism. Diurnal bruxism often presents as a habit, an unconscious clenching. Sleep bruxism generally occurs during the mild arousal that occurs as you slip into deeper stages of sleep.
Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. One important factor to consider is that while some research has shown a potential connection between depression and bruxism, most experts who study it as a sleep condition do not contend that research supports a psychological or psychiatric causal point regarding bruxism. Additionally, some medications can cause both types of bruxism, particularly phenothiazines, some anti-depressants, and amphetamines.
Emotional Factors
In either case, the exact cause is still unknown. However, many experts believe bruxism is a result of intense emotions. If you suffer from high levels of stress, tend to get angry easily, experience frequent frustration, or are generally anxious, you may be more likely to suffer from bruxism. The human body responds physically to emotional feelings. Bruxism can be a physical distinction of intense, negative emotions, in much the same way the neck becomes very tight and causes tension headaches as a result of chronic stress. It can become a sort of nervous tic or coping habit, like biting the fingernails.
Anatomical Import
Stress and strain are not the cause in every instance of awake or sleep bruxism. For some people, it seems to just happen. Anatomical structures can impact this as well, particularly in the case of sleep bruxism. When the jaw and teeth don’t line up perfectly, it can incite bruxism. This misalignment, called malocclusion, seems to impact the presence of bruxism. Malocclusions can cause bruxism in different ways, depending on exactly how the teeth are misaligned. For example, it may be an attempt to find a more comfortable position for the teeth that leads to a constant grinding against each other.
Underlying Disorders
Grinding or clenching the teeth can be a symptom of certain degenerative neurological disorders, particularly Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, that impact movement. Acid reflux, in which something causes excessive stomach acid to rise up the esophagus, may also impact bruxism.
Additionally, although bruxism can cause ear pain, ear pain can actually cause bruxism as well. The disorder is much more common in children, and tends to decrease as the population ages. According to Arizona Family Dental, while approximately 15% of children grind their teeth chronically, only about 3% of elderly populations are impacted. This may have something to do with the frequency with which small children tend to get ear infections. Teething may also cause or intensify bruxism in children. Sleep bruxism often co-occurs with other sleep conditions, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (a sleep disorder in which breathing periodically ceases), snoring, or excessive fatigue.
