What Teeth Grinding Reveals About Your Psyche
The underlying causes behind this nighttime menace
According to the American Sleep Association, about 10% of people suffer from teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, and researchers believe the number of patients suffering from it has increased in recent years. While there are a number of medical and lifestyle causes for bruxism, teeth grinding can also be a window into your psyche — and a sign that you may need to reduce stress.
There are several risk factors for unwanted jaw movement: Medications (like some antidepressants, antipsychotics, and amphetamines), along with tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, or recreational drug use can cause people to grind their teeth at night. Age also plays a role; grinding teeth is fairly common among young children and, in most cases, it dissipates by adulthood.
But stress is another important culprit behind many cases of teeth grinding. For adults, scientific literature shows a significant relationship between stress levels and bruxism. For example, people who grind their teeth generally report more anxiety and depression symptoms than those who don’t grind, and teeth grinders (or “bruxers”), also tend to be more stressed and suffer from clinical depression and anxiety disorders. One 2019 study showed people who suffer from bruxism have higher levels…
