If you have ever experienced a particularly frustrating day at work or at home with the kids, you know what it’s like to gnash your teeth. It seems a very human trait to grit our teeth in response to tension or anger. For some people, this gnashing and grinding of teeth turns into a disorder that can cause all sorts of health issues down the road. Daytime bruxism affects people of all ages, making their waking hours painful. For sufferers, the frustration is real, and it hurts. Here’s how you can know if you’re suffering from daytime bruxism.

What is daytime bruxism?

Bruxism, also referred to as teeth grinding or clenching, is the official name for a disorder that affects an estimated 31% of people in the U.S. Even children are not immune. An estimated 20-30% of children experience bruxism.

There are two kinds of bruxism: sleep and daytime.

Sleep bruxism occurs, as you might guess, at night. Sufferers both clench their jaw and grind their teeth. Because of this, people with this condition often wake up with symptoms that gradually diminish during the day.

Daytime bruxism generally occurs during the day and may be more associated with jaw clenching. People who suffer from this form of bruxism generally see their symptoms get worse as the day progresses.

What causes daytime bruxism?

Daytime bruxism causes are largely related to:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Tension
  • Anger
  • Concentration

These feelings may occur in short bursts during the day, or they may be nearly constant for those in high-stress professions (e.g., nurses and police officers).

Another cause of daytime bruxism is some medications designed to help relieve stress and promote a sense of well-being. Because bruxism relates to disturbances in the central nervous system (CNS), it makes sense that any medication that affects the CNS would affect the incidence of tooth grinding. Changes to the dopaminergic system, the neurotransmitters in the CNS that regulate the release of dopamine, may also result in an increase in bruxism.

Because of the way they act in the brain, many anti-depressants are linked to an increase in bruxism, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Paxil (paroxetine). Antipsychotics are also linked to an increase in bruxism.

Women seem to be more affected by the jaw clenching aspects of daytime bruxism than men (but both genders experience sleep bruxism at roughly the same rates).

What are some daytime bruxism symptoms?

So if daytime bruxism is not an unconscious behavior but is sneaky and subtle, how do you know you are experiencing it?

The most characteristic symptom of daytime bruxism is strain, fatigue, and pain in the jaw and down the side of the neck at the end of the day. If you get into bed at night and feel soreness and tight muscles in your jaw that were not there in the morning, this is a major symptom.

Other daytime bruxism symptoms are similar to those experienced by sleep bruxism patients. They may include some or all of the following:

  • Uneven or accelerated tooth wear
  • Fractured or broken teeth
  • Increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Worn tooth enamel and exposed dental pulp
  • Difficulty opening the mouth by the end of the day
  • Issues with the temporomandibular joint (e.g., clicking, popping, pain)
  • Headaches
  • Loose teeth (or the potential for tooth loosening)
  • Enlarged muscles of the jaw

You can observe some of these yourself, but your dentist is also a good ally at identifying this condition. If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, talk to your dentist during your regular cleaning to see if they can help you diagnose your condition.

How to stop clenching teeth while awake

While sleep bruxism is largely involuntary, many instances of daytime bruxism occur during periods of concentration, stress, anxiety, and anger. The person doing the teeth grinding and jaw clenching may not be entirely aware that they are doing it while it is happening, but they are conscious. This means that awake bruxism may be easier to treat than sleep bruxism.

If the main cause of your daytime bruxism is stress or anxiety, it is crucial to find ways to reduce or eliminate stress. Try these tips for reducing stress at work and at home:

  • Take breaks: Short, frequent breaks to move around the office or step outside allows you to focus on something other than the stressful task
  • Walk: Walking meetings or a short stroll in a green space during lunch are proven ways to reduce stress
  • Breathe: Simple breathing exercises like counting your breaths or simply taking the time to breathe deeply can help reduce the stress response and calm anxiety
  • Exercise: Exercise is a proven stress buster, whether it is an hour of yoga, laps in a pool, or a run around the block

If you need reminders to stop clenching your jaw during the day, set a timer on your phone. A subtle bell can prompt you to relax, stretch, roll your neck and shoulders, and release your jaw. It need not be loud or obtrusive. Even a subtle vibration serves as a regular reminder to relax.

Daytime bruxism treatments

Some bruxism sufferers will gradually outgrow their teeth grinding and jaw clenching or can redirect and change their habits, but others need treatment for the symptoms of bruxism. For the acute phase, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help ease soreness in the jaw. A cold compress will also reduce swelling and help with pain.

Your dentist can help, too. Dental appliances and daytime bruxism guards work to protect the surfaces of the teeth from wear while gently repositioning the jaw. These may be challenging to wear during the day, but if the problem is severe enough they may help.

Botox (botulinum toxin A) for bruxism seems to be helpful for some patients who have tried more conservative treatments that have not worked. Injecting Botox into the jaw muscles relaxes them enough to prevent tooth grinding or jaw clenching but not so much that the patient cannot speak or eat. The research on the success of Botox for daytime bruxism is limited, so it may be best to try other treatments first. If those don’t work, talk to your dentist about Botox.

You may not notice your daytime bruxism until your dentist points it out. Regular dental checkups are an important part of your overall health. Schedule an appointment with AZ Dental today.    

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