Medically reviewed by Brittany Ferri, PhD
Jaw pain, headaches, and tooth sensitivity are common symptoms associated with teeth grinding, but they can also result from other health issues. For instance, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and various dental problems can cause similar discomfort and are often mistaken for bruxism. Recognizing these differences is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management. By understanding the distinct characteristics of these conditions, you can ensure that the true source of your symptoms is identified and properly treated.
The importance of diagnosing teeth grinding symptoms correctly
It’s important to differentiate between sleep bruxism and awake bruxism, as many people might mistakenly believe they grind their teeth only at night when the source of their symptoms actually comes from awake bruxism. These two types of bruxism are distinct conditions with different characteristics and management needs.
Sleep Bruxism occurs unconsciously during sleep and is often linked to arousals or disruptions in sleep patterns.
Awake Bruxism, on the other hand, happens while the person is awake and is usually associated with stress, anxiety, or concentration.
While jaw movements during sleep are generally characterized by teeth grinding and clenching, awake bruxism involves a wider range of activities. These can include not just grinding and clenching, but also nail-biting, excessive gum chewing, tooth tapping, tooth pressing, tongue pushing, tongue sucking, chewing on the inside of cheeks, lip biting, biting on pens or other hard objects, jaw bracing, and jaw thrusting.
Besides awake bruxism, the following conditions have symptoms that can be mistaken for symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching:
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ disorders):
TMJ disorder is a different disorder affecting the temporomandibular joint that connects the jaw to the skull. Symptoms include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth, and difficulty chewing. These symptoms overlap significantly with those of bruxism, and bruxism is often blamed as the leading cause of TMJ disorders, leading to potential confusion. For more information about the relationship between bruxism and TMJ disorders, see our previous article on this topic.
Dental Issues:
Tooth pain, sensitivity, and wear can result from a variety of dental problems such as cavities, cracked teeth, or gum disease. As discussed above, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause stomach acid to wear away tooth enamel, mimicking the wear and tooth sensitivity seen in bruxism.
Sleep Apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) involves repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality, fatigue, and headaches in the morning. Sometimes grinding or clenching occurs in response to airway obstruction as well, making it easy to confuse with sleep bruxism.
Ear Infections:
Ear pain, fullness, or popping often associated with ear infections can mimic the ear pain or discomfort that sometimes accompanies sleep bruxism.
Trigeminal Neuralgia:
This chronic pain condition affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. It causes severe facial pain that can be mistaken for the facial pain resulting from bruxism.
