08/31/2026
Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching) is harmful because it puts excessive, repetitive force on your teeth, jaw muscles, and jaw joints. Over time, it can cause significant damage—even if you don’t notice you’re doing it.
🦷 What can bruxism cause?
* Enamel wear — Teeth become flatter, shorter, and more sensitive.
* Cracked or fractured teeth — Heavy clenching can cause cracks that eventually require crowns, root canals, or extraction.
* Chipped teeth & restorations — Veneers, crowns, bridges, and fillings can fracture or debond.
* Tooth sensitivity — Grinding can expose dentin, making teeth sensitive to cold, heat, or sweets.
* Jaw pain & headaches — Overworked chewing muscles can become chronically tight and painful.
* TMJ problems — Excessive loading can contribute to pain and dysfunction around the temporomandibular joints.
* Gum recession/abfraction — Excessive forces can contribute to certain types of cervical tooth damage.
* Enlarged jaw muscles — Chronic clenching can make the masseter muscles more prominent and give the lower face a squarer appearance.
* Sleep disruption — Sleep bruxism can occur alongside sleep-related breathing disorders and cause micro-arousals.