More Young People Are Grinding Their Teeth at Night — Here's Why

A growing number of young people in the UK are grinding their teeth without even realizing it. Dentists say they are seeing more patients with worn and damaged teeth caused by a condition called bruxism. Bruxism means grinding, clenching, or pressing your teeth together, often during sleep. Experts believe rising stress levels in everyday life are a big reason why this is happening more often.

Ella is 31 years old and has bruxism. She says she cannot remember exactly when she started grinding her teeth at night, but she clearly remembers the pain it caused. Her jaw ached, she got headaches, and her dentist told her that her back teeth were slowly wearing away. She says the treatment she recently received has 'without a doubt' changed her life.

Bruxism affects millions of people across the UK. Some studies suggest that almost one in four people have the condition. Many people do not know they have it until they start feeling pain or their dentist spots damage. The British Dental Association says there is some evidence that bruxism is becoming more common, though exact numbers are hard to pin down.

Dr. Aditi Desai is the president of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine. She says teeth grinding is 'definitely on the rise' and links it closely to the stress of modern life. Stress can put the body into 'fight or flight' mode, which means your heart beats faster, your body releases a chemical called adrenaline, and your muscles get tense. Because the jaw is closely connected to the nervous system, this tension often ends up in the jaw — causing people to grind or clench their teeth.

Psychotherapist Rahi Popat says more of his younger clients are noticing that they grind their teeth. They can often connect it to a very stressful period in their lives. He explains that grinding at night can be the body's way of releasing stress that built up during the day. For Ella, her nighttime grinding was tied to anxiety she quietly carried while she was awake.

So how do you know if you grind your teeth? There are several signs to watch for, including worn or chipped teeth, headaches or jaw pain in the morning, and stiffness in the jaw. You might also notice that your teeth feel more sensitive, or that you have an earache near your temples. Some people grind so hard at night that they wake up their sleeping partners.

Ella decided to get treatment after her dentist warned her that her teeth were in danger. She paid for injections of a medicine called Botox into the muscles that control her jaw, which relaxed them and reduced tension in her face. The treatment lasts about three to four months. 'Over the past few months I've been able to sleep properly,' she says, adding that her energy and pain levels have both improved.

A mouthguard is another common treatment, worn at night to protect the teeth from grinding damage. However, experts warn that giving someone a mouthguard without finding out why they grind is not enough. Dr. Desai says it is important to look for deeper causes, such as a sleep condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, where the airway gets blocked during sleep and grinding may help the person breathe again.

Professor Frank Lobbezoo, a leading researcher on bruxism, points out that teeth grinding is not always harmful. Moving the jaw produces saliva, which cleans the mouth, protects the teeth, and helps with digestion. Some studies also suggest that working the jaw muscles sends more blood to the brain, which could help with thinking and memory. So while bruxism can cause real problems, it is not always the 'bad guy.'

Dentist Riaz Yar treats patients with severe bruxism and says the condition involves the brain, nervous system, and the whole person — not just the jaw. He looks at a patient's sleep habits, diet, exercise, and any medicines they take before deciding on treatment. Many things can contribute to teeth grinding, so helping a patient often requires different types of doctors working together. Ella is now trying meditation alongside her injections, and says, 'Having treatment has transformed my life — now I want to try and figure out the root cause.'