Clenching is the act of holding the teeth together and tightening the jaw muscles. It is often associated with bruxism, a condition in which a person grinds, gnashes, or clenches their teeth unconsciously, either while awake or asleep. Bruxism can be caused by a combination of physical, psychological, and genetic factors, including stress, anxiety, misaligned teeth, and sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.

Symptoms of bruxism include teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up a sleep partner, flattened, fractured, chipped, or loose teeth, worn tooth enamel, increased tooth pain or sensitivity, tired or tight jaw muscles, a locked jaw that wont open or close completely, jaw, neck, or face pain or soreness, and dull headaches starting in the temples.

Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but in some people, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. Treatment options for bruxism include wearing a plastic mouthguard to absorb the force of biting, which can be worn during the day if you grind your teeth while awake or at night to prevent future damage to the teeth and aid in changing behavior. Biofeedback, which involves an electronic instrument that measures the amount of muscle activity of the mouth and jaw and signals you when there is too much muscle activity so you can take steps to change that behavior, is especially helpful for daytime bruxism. Activities that reduce stress, like yoga and meditation, may help lessen daytime teeth clenching, and counseling can help you learn to manage intense emotions, which may also ease the habit. If these strategies don’t help, you may consider wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard made by a dentist to protect your teeth.