There is also a strong association between bruxism and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA is a sleep disorder where your breathing is interrupted during your sleep. Teeth grinding can also be caused by taking certain antidepressants. Your lifestyle can also have an effect. For example, regularly drinking alcohol, smoking and using recreational drugs, such as ecstasy and cocaine, increase your risk of bruxism. Doctors sometimes refer to teeth grinding that is caused by an underlying condition as “primary bruxism” and teeth grinding associated with a medication, condition or your lifestyle as “secondary bruxism”. Treating bruxism There are a number of possible treatments for teeth grinding but only a few have been shown to be effective. Behavioural therapies and the use of mouth guards, mouth splints and mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are recommended treatments for bruxism. Other treatments, such as muscle-relaxation exercises and sleep hygiene, may also help manage your symptoms. If you grind your teeth while you are asleep, you may need to wear a mouth guard, mouth splint or a MAD at night to protect your teeth from further damage.
