03/11/2025
When you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep — a condition called bruxism — your jaw muscles can squeeze together much harder than they do when you’re awake.
Normally, chewing food uses around 70–150 kilograms of pressure, but during sleep bruxism, some people can reach 80 kilograms or more, which is strong enough to damage teeth over time.
This happens because the masseter muscle, one of the strongest muscles in the human body, contracts without conscious control.
Over time, this can cause worn or cracked teeth, jaw pain, and morning headaches.