Grinding and Jaw
Why do I grind my teeth at night?
31 July 2026 · The Dentist, Al Qusais, Dubai
The short answer
Night time teeth grinding, called bruxism, is mostly linked to stress and anxiety, disrupted sleep (including sleep apnoea), and how your upper and lower teeth meet when your jaw is at rest. It happens during lighter stages of sleep and you have no conscious control over it, which is why a mouthguard rather than willpower is the usual fix. If you're waking with jaw ache, headaches, or noticing worn or chipped teeth, it's worth getting your bite and jaw checked rather than guessing at the cause.
What's actually triggering the grinding
Bruxism is a nervous system event, not a bad habit. During the lighter stages of sleep, the brain sends bursts of activity to the jaw muscles, and for some people that translates into clenching and grinding rather than staying still. Stress and anxiety are the biggest drivers we see in the chair. People often grind hardest during exam periods, work deadlines, or stretches of poor sleep, then it eases off once life calms down.
Sleep quality matters too. Snoring, sleep apnoea, and frequent waking are all associated with higher rates of grinding, because the airway and jaw muscles are linked. Caffeine late in the day, alcohol before bed, smoking, and certain antidepressants (SSRIs in particular) can also increase it. On top of all that, if your bite is slightly off, meaning your teeth don't meet evenly when your jaw closes, the muscles can overwork trying to find a stable resting position, and grinding is one way that shows up at night.
How to tell it's happening and what it does to your teeth
Most people don't hear themselves grinding. A partner mentioning the noise is often the first clue. Otherwise the signs are indirect: waking with a tight or aching jaw, a dull headache around the temples, teeth that feel sensitive to cold in the morning, or small chips and flat, worn edges on the front teeth that weren't there a few years ago.
Left unmanaged, grinding wears down enamel faster than normal biting ever would, because the forces are sustained and repetitive rather than brief. Over months and years this can flatten the biting surfaces, crack fillings or crowns, and put strain on the jaw joint itself, which is why some grinders also develop clicking or discomfort when opening wide.
What actually helps, and your next step
A custom night guard is the standard first response. It's a thin, well-fitted acrylic shield made from a mould of your own teeth, and its job isn't to stop the grinding reflex but to stop your teeth wearing each other down while it happens. Shop bought versions are better than nothing but tend to be bulky and don't last, because they're not shaped to your bite.
Beyond the guard, it's worth looking at the trigger. If stress is the obvious cause, things like reducing evening caffeine, winding down properly before bed, and addressing anxiety directly (even briefly, with a GP or therapist) can reduce how often it happens. If snoring or daytime tiredness is part of the picture, that's worth mentioning to a doctor, since treating sleep apnoea often calms the grinding down as a side effect. And if your bite feels uneven or you've got a tooth that seems to hit first, that's a dental issue that a guard alone won't fix.
If you're noticing wear, chips, or morning jaw ache, the honest next step is to have a dentist actually look at your teeth and jaw movement rather than guess from symptoms alone. At The Dentist in Al Qusais, the first checkup is free for new patients, and Dr. Faris Alkhanafseh or Dr. Mohammad Nour can check for wear patterns, take a look at your bite, and talk through whether a custom night guard or a bite adjustment makes more sense for you. You can call or WhatsApp 056 349 8888 to book a time that suits you.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are in Dubai, the free first checkup at our Al Qusais clinic is the fastest way to get an answer about your own teeth.