Does Teeth Grinding Get Worse in Winter? What Research Shows

Does Teeth Grinding Really Get Worse in Winter?

We don't know yet.

Bruxism can occur while awake or during sleep and includes repetitive grinding, clenching and jaw bracing. It is influenced by multiple biological, behavioral and psychosocial factors rather than one universal trigger.

Cold weather is not currently listed among the established factors associated with bruxism by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

That makes the winter question unusual: there is evidence of a seasonal pattern in public interest, but not yet strong clinical evidence of a seasonal pattern in the condition itself.

The Study That Found a Winter Pattern

In 2019, researchers published a study titled Seasonality of Bruxism: Evidence from Google Trends.

They analyzed Google search activity from January 2004 through December 2017 in four countries:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia

The researchers examined searches for “bruxism” as well as combined searches related to “teeth grinding” and “teeth clenching.”

They found a recurring seasonal pattern in which search interest generally peaked during the winter and fell during the summer.

One of the most interesting findings was geographic: the seasonal peaks in Australia occurred roughly six months apart from those in Northern Hemisphere countries, corresponding with Australia's opposite seasons.

At first glance, that sounds like evidence that winter makes people grind their teeth.

It isn't quite that simple.

What the Study Did — and Did Not — Measure

Google Trends measures how often people search for particular topics relative to overall search activity.

It does not measure:

• How often someone actually clenches or grinds
• Jaw-muscle activity during sleep
• Dental wear occurring during winter
• The number of people clinically diagnosed with bruxism
• Whether cold temperature caused the behavior

Someone might search for “teeth grinding” because symptoms became more noticeable, because a dentist mentioned tooth wear, because a partner heard grinding, or simply because they encountered the subject elsewhere.

Search behavior and disease prevalence are not the same thing.

So Why Might Bruxism Searches Rise in Winter?

Researchers have proposed possible explanations for seasonality, but the mechanism has not been established.

Several winter-related changes could theoretically overlap with factors already associated with bruxism. The important distinction is that plausible does not mean proven.

Stress and emotional changes

Stress, distress and mood-related factors are associated with bruxism, particularly awake clenching.

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that people reporting stress had higher odds of bruxism, although the certainty of the evidence was considered low.

Some people may experience greater stress during the winter or holiday season, while others do not.

There is currently no evidence showing that winter stress specifically explains the seasonal Google-search pattern.

For a deeper look at this relationship, see Stress and Teeth Grinding: What's the Connection?

Changes in routines and sleep

Daylight, schedules, travel, holidays and sleep routines may change seasonally.

Those changes could affect how people feel and sleep, but we do not currently have evidence showing that ordinary winter sleep changes directly increase sleep bruxism.

That distinction matters because sleep bruxism is not simply conscious daytime stress continuing after you fall asleep.

Alcohol, caffeine and tobacco

Alcohol, caffeine and tobacco have all been associated with bruxism in research, although the strength of evidence varies.

If your own use of one of these changes during certain seasons, it may be worth noticing. But that does not mean winter itself is responsible.

Our dedicated article on alcohol and teeth grinding examines that association separately.

Does Cold Air Make Your Jaw Muscles Clench?

Feeling tense when you are cold is not the same thing as having bruxism.

People naturally alter muscle activity when exposed to cold, and severe cold can produce shivering. But we do not have good evidence showing that ordinary exposure to winter temperatures causes the repetitive jaw-muscle activity classified as sleep or awake bruxism.

In other words:

Feeling your jaw tighten when you're freezing does not prove that cold weather is making your underlying bruxism worse.

Is Teeth Chattering From the Cold the Same as Bruxism?

No.

Teeth chattering during shivering is a response to cold. Bruxism refers to repetitive grinding, clenching or jaw bracing that can occur while awake or asleep.

The two can both involve the jaw and teeth, but they are not interchangeable behaviors.

There is also no good evidence that an occasional episode of cold-induced teeth chattering means a person with bruxism is suddenly experiencing a more severe grinding episode.

Do Seasonal Allergies or Congestion Cause Teeth Grinding?

The evidence does not support treating seasonal allergies as a routine cause of bruxism.

Nasal congestion, respiratory symptoms and sleep-related breathing problems deserve evaluation when they are persistent, but it is too simplistic to say that people clench their teeth in order to “open the airway.”

Likewise, teeth grinding should not be presented as a normal symptom of seasonal allergies in children or adults.

Sleep bruxism and sleep-related breathing disorders can coexist, but one does not diagnose the other.

Could Your Teeth Simply Feel Worse in Cold Weather?

Yes — and this may sometimes make an existing dental problem more noticeable.

Teeth that are worn, cracked, have exposed dentin or are otherwise sensitive can react strongly to cold temperatures.

Someone with existing grinding-related wear might therefore become more aware of tooth sensitivity during colder months even if the amount of grinding has not changed.

That distinction is easy to miss:

More noticeable symptoms do not necessarily mean more bruxism.

How Can You Tell If Your Grinding Is Actually Worse in Winter?

Rather than relying on the season itself, look for a repeatable pattern in your own symptoms and behaviors.

You might track:

• Morning jaw soreness or fatigue
• Daytime clenching episodes
• Grinding sounds noticed by a sleep partner
• New tooth sensitivity
• Chipping or cracking
• Changes in wear marks on an existing night guard
• Alcohol, caffeine or nicotine use
• Periods of unusual stress
• Medication changes

A few cold days followed by a sore jaw do not establish seasonal bruxism. A consistent pattern over time is more useful information to bring to your dentist.

If you're not sure whether you grind at all, see our Warning Signs of Bruxism.

What Should You Do If Bruxism Seems Worse in Winter?

The management principles are the same regardless of the month.

Pay attention to awake clenching

If you catch yourself holding your teeth together while working, driving or concentrating, awareness can be useful. NIDCR recommends reminders to keep the teeth apart when daytime clenching is occurring.

Look at factors that changed — not just the temperature

Consider whether your stress level, sleep schedule, alcohol intake, caffeine use, smoking or medications changed around the same time.

Those factors have more support in the bruxism literature than cold weather itself.

For the broader evidence, see What Causes Teeth Grinding? Bruxism Causes & Risk Factors.

Have new dental symptoms examined

New or persistent sensitivity, a cracked tooth, pain when biting or rapidly changing tooth wear should not simply be blamed on “winter grinding.”

Those findings deserve a dental evaluation.

Can a Night Guard Help With Winter Bruxism?

A night guard does not treat winter or remove whatever factors are contributing to bruxism.

Its primary job is mechanical protection.

When someone is grinding or clenching frequently enough to put the teeth at risk, a properly fitted guard creates a replaceable surface between the upper and lower teeth rather than allowing repeated tooth-to-tooth contact.

That role is the same in January as it is in July.

Learn more about how mouth guards protect teeth from grinding and clenching.

When to Talk With a Dentist

Seasonal or not, seek a dental evaluation if you notice:

• Progressive tooth wear
• New chips or cracks
• Persistent tooth sensitivity
• Repeated damage to fillings, crowns or bonding
• Persistent jaw or facial pain
• Pain when biting
• A loose permanent tooth
• A persistent change in your bite

If bruxism occurs alongside loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, gasping or substantial daytime sleepiness, discuss the possibility of a sleep-related breathing disorder with a healthcare professional as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cold weather cause teeth grinding?

There is no good evidence that cold temperature itself causes bruxism. A published Google Trends study found greater search interest in bruxism-related terms during winter, but it did not measure actual grinding or clenching.

Why does my teeth grinding seem worse in winter?

It may be a real personal pattern, but several things can change at the same time as the weather, including stress, sleep routines, caffeine or alcohol use and awareness of tooth sensitivity. Current research has not established which, if any, explains the reported seasonal pattern.

Is there scientific evidence that bruxism is seasonal?

There is preliminary evidence of seasonality in online search behavior. A 2019 study found winter peaks in searches for bruxism, teeth grinding and teeth clenching across several countries. The authors said clinical studies were still needed to confirm whether the condition itself is seasonal.

Does shivering or teeth chattering make bruxism worse?

Cold-induced teeth chattering is not the same behavior as bruxism. There is not good evidence showing that ordinary shivering worsens a person's underlying grinding disorder.

Can seasonal allergies cause teeth grinding?

Seasonal allergies should not be considered an established cause of bruxism. Persistent nasal obstruction, snoring or breathing problems deserve their own medical evaluation.

Can cold weather make teeth more sensitive?

Cold exposure can make existing tooth sensitivity more noticeable. If grinding has already worn or damaged a tooth, winter temperatures may make that sensitivity easier to notice without necessarily meaning the grinding itself has increased.

Should I wear a night guard only during winter?

A night guard is generally used because grinding or clenching is putting the teeth at risk, not because of the season. Follow the recommendations given for your individual dental situation.

The Bottom Line

The idea that bruxism gets worse in winter is more intriguing than it first appears — but it is not yet proven.

Researchers have documented a repeating winter peak in Google searches for bruxism, grinding and clenching across countries in both hemispheres. That suggests some kind of seasonal signal may exist.

What it does not tell us is whether people's jaw muscles actually become more active during winter or what might explain the pattern.

Cold-induced muscle tension, holiday stress, changing sleep patterns and seasonal habits are reasonable questions for researchers to study, but they should not be presented as established explanations.

If you personally notice more jaw soreness or dental symptoms every winter, focus on the symptoms you can document, the factors that changed with them and whether your teeth are showing signs of damage.