Category: teeth clenching

why am I clenching my teeth?

Why Do I Clench My Teeth?

The Effects of Teeth Clenching

It’s hopeful to imagine that all you need for optimal oral health (especially the condition of your teeth) is a good diet and mouth cleaning habits. Unfortunately, there are other habits like teeth clenching which can easily cause destruction to your teeth.

Teeth clenching (whether during the day or at night) is a common condition affecting millions of both adults and children.

So, why do I clench my teeth?

How Do You Define Teeth or Jaw Clenching?

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Teeth and/or jaw clenching is one of the manifestations of a bigger problem known as bruxism.

Its unfortunate counterpart is teeth grinding, and they could occur together or one can act alone.

‘Clenching teeth’ is the static and sustained contact of both your sets of teeth using the jaw muscles responsible for closing the mouth. It’s a para-function, meaning it’s dysfunctional – not the intended purpose of the jaws.

Why Is Clenching My Teeth Harmful to My Dental Health?

Teeth clenching is a major problem because it wears out your chewing system.

Have ever asked yourself ‘why do my teeth hurt from clenching my jaw?’

It is because you are straining them. The human chewing system, known as the masticatory system, is designed to work for just 45 minutes every day. This is usually enough time for you to have your three meals a day.

However, teeth clenching (whether done in the day or night), can easily add anything from minutes to five hours of “working time”, which is more than 500% the duration the system is designed to be functioning at.

This leads to overworking of the teeth and other parts of the system, making them weak and worn out. This results in a number of disorders and can create an environment in which other problematic dental conditions thrive.

Causes of Teeth Clenching 

While scientists are yet to pinpoint exactly what causes teeth clenching, research shows the leading factor could be stress.

According to research, jaw clenching is a body’s way to fight stress. This happens because teeth clenching causes the brain to produce chemicals that help to fight stress.

In this self-preservation mechanism, teeth clenching helps protect vital body organs like reducing overproduction of acid in the stomach which leads to ulcers.

The chemicals also help control blood pressure and increase nutrient absorption in the small intestines. There are other causes of teeth clenching too, and they include;

  • Sleep disorders such as hallucinations, talking in sleep, and apnea can all lead to the development of bruxism of which teeth clenching is part of.
  • Poor lifestyle habits like smoking, alcoholism, and the use of other recreational drugs also contribute to the development of teeth clenching as a side effect or to deal with the strain caused.
  • Some types of medication, especially those belonging to the group which selectively inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin (SSRI’s) that are largely used for the treatment of depression. These drugs, like the recreational drugs and other substances above, cause teeth clenching as a side effect of their use.

Symptoms of Teeth Clenching

At times, it may be hard to know whether you are suffering from teeth clenching, especially if it happens when you are asleep.

For this reason, it is always recommended that you consult a dentist for a comprehensive dental evaluation. Some of the symptoms of the condition include:

  • Waking up in the morning with pain in the jaws or the jaws are tight
  • Morning headaches that are caused by the prolonged tension of the jaw muscles which are placed under a lot of strain.
  • Increased tooth sensitivity because the protective enamel layer of the teeth becomes gradually worn out and the nerves inside the teeth become exposed.
  • Pain in the area surrounding your ears when yawning or chewing food. It can also result in the development of sinus pain.
  • Swelling occasionally on the lower side of the jaw caused by the clenching.
  • For those using dentures: dysfunctions and the need to keep adjusting them or even replacing them.
  • Chronic pain in the neck and surrounding area – and when this is treated, relief only lasts for a short period.

If you observe these symptoms in yourself, we suggest consulting your doctor to rule out any other possible causes, and to get advice on the best method to fight the condition depending on the severity of your case.

The Damage of Teeth Clenching to Your Dental Health

Besides the symptoms, teeth clenching can lead to severe dental damage if it is not checked early. Some of the effects of this condition include:

• Cracked and crooked teeth – the excessive pressure placed on the teeth leads to the development of small cracks in the teeth. These gradually expand, causing cavities and allowing bacteria room to get inside the teeth. The teeth can also become misaligned because of the constant excessive pressure.

• Masseter hypertrophy – this is a term that refers to the enlargement of the jaws over time. This happens because teeth clenching acts as a workout for jaw muscles and makes them increase in size. This may affect your physical appearance.

• The overworking of the jaw muscles can also lead to bone and gum loss, which further lead to increased tooth root sensitivity.

• It can lead to adrenal stress syndrome since a dysfunctioning masticatory system has been shown to increase the cortisol levels in the blood.

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Prevention and Treatment of Teeth Clenching to Prevent Pain and Dental Damage

There are several practices and therapies you can use to prevent teeth clenching some of them include:

  1. Use mouth guards and splints – this is effective when one is asleep, and while mouth guards do not stop clenching, they redistribute the force of the clenching, preventing it from being exerted on the teeth.
  2. Avoid stress and anxiety whenever you can, and when it’s not possible, try to practice better ways of fighting it, like stress-relief exercises, and if necessary, counseling. Ignoring your stressful moments makes the body look for self-preservation alternatives.
  3. Avoid caffeine and alcohol which affect the quality of your sleep, leading to clenching at night, since your body becomes physically depressed.
  4. In cases of severe teeth clenching, a muscle relaxant can be used to prevent the jaw muscles from clenching while asleep.
  5. You can train yourself to be self-aware of the clenching, especially during the day. This can be done by keeping your lips together and teeth apart with the tongue in between.

It is not a guaranteed fix, but if stress seems to be the main trigger for clenching and/or grinding, it would make sense to take strides to lower your stress. How can we do this?

You are at your best when you’re optimal, and when are you optimal?

When you’re working out, eating healthy and taking charge of your life. Keep your body healthy. Keep your mind healthy and keep your stress levels down.

Wear a dental night guard to ease your jaw tension and stop the pain and teeth damage associated with teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

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does adderall cause teeth grinding

Is Adderall Causing Me To Grind My Teeth at Night?

How many people in the United States are on Adderall?

A quick google search says A LOT. Over 16 million people were prescribed adderall in 2012. How many of these people find themselves grinding their teeth at night?

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching, medically known as bruxism, can be caused by various factors; including sleep disorders, occlusion, neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking, stress, and the use of amphetamine medications.

If you’re taking Adderall, you should be aware of its side effects. In this post, you will find out why your teeth grinding and jaw clenching may be a result of using amphetamines like Adderall. You’ve come here to know “is Adderall causing me to grind my teeth at night?”.

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Amphetamines are stimulants clinically prescribed for the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Because the drugs stimulate the central nervous system, producing a performance-enhancing effect, they are frequently abused and misused. Also, legitimate long-term use of amphetamines like Adderall and Ritalin can turn into an addiction. Some of the short-term effects of these drugs include feeling energized, being excited, quick reaction times, increased concentration and attentiveness, and feelings of euphoria.

The long-term side effects of amphetamines include:

  • paranoia
  • convulsions
  • loss of coordination
  • violent and obsessive behavior
  • hallucinations, and more…

These effects, however, vary from person to person depending on factors such as the medical state of the user, the amphetamine dosage, and the user’s body composition.

Amphetamines and Bruxism

As noted earlier, Bruxism is one of the side effects of amphetamines like Adderall.

The effects of Adderall and other amphetamines on jaw clenching and teeth grinding were first discovered by Ashcroft et al. in the 1960s. The researchers found out that amphetamine addiction causes continuous teeth grinding and clenching.

It was also realized that users rubbed their tongues along the inside of their lower lips. Liester et al. would later conduct research involving 20 psychiatrists who were previously on amphetamine prescriptions. 30% of the subjects were found to have teeth grinding and jaw clenching as an adverse side effect of the medicine.

“Why do amphetamines cause teeth grinding and jaw clenching?”

Much research shows that amphetamines have a powerful distributive influence on an individual’s dopaminergic pathways.

Continued bruxism can lead to severe dental problems including tooth (or teeth) loss, gum problems, and teeth and jaw pains. It is important to note here that if you take increased doses of Adderall and other amphetamines, their effects on bruxism can become worse.

Amphetamines can also cause cardiac related issues, insomnia, and gastrointestinal conditions like diarrhea and constipation.

*A note about methamphetamines and the common term “meth mouth”

Methamphetamines and “Meth Mouth”

Contrary to popular belief, meth is not a new drug and the term “meth mouth” is not a new dental phenomenon. It’s not a weird concoction that some kids made up in the 80s. Meth and its bizarre effects have been around for quite sometime.

Methamphetamine was actually first created in Japan by a man named Nagayoshi Nagai in 1893, then made into a crystal form in 1919 by a man named Akira Ogata.

In WW2, meth was distributed to Japanese soldiers and German soldiers in tablet form. Of course, back then no one was aware of the many awful adverse effects including the high probability for full-on addiction.

Now we know that it can take just one time of use to become an addict.
This isn’t a scare tactic given by a helicopter mom. This is simply the cold hard truth about this highly dangerous and highly addictive drug. It does not mean that every person who does meth instantly becomes an addict. It means that there have been many cases in which a person who had never done the drug before engaged in use once and became addicted.

And the even scarier part? The more you use it and the longer you use it, the less chance you have to be able to stop.

Signs of meth use and the resulting “meth mouth”

Excessive dry mouth which increases chances of cavities

Clenching, gnawing or grinding of the teeth. This action creates fracture lines in the teeth, shortened or flat teeth, chipped or broken teeth which in turn weakens the tooth. The weakened teeth become more susceptible to cavities, rotting, and even degradation of the bone and root system.

Craving sugary drinks that eats away at the enamel.

Hygienists and dentists can start to see the eroded enamel as it is a first line indicator of meth mouth.

Combating bruxism caused by Adderall and other amphetamines

1. Invest in a high quality mouth guard

Find a mouth guard made of high-quality material. The mouth guard should fit you properly and should be thick enough to separate your upper teeth from the lower ones. While you can get a good mouth guard from the shelves, it is recommended that you get one custom-made for you. This type can be made through a dentist, or a more affordable alternative would be to purchase one online. 

A quality mouth guard will also help you prevent other bruxism effects like having receded gums, headaches, and soreness in the mouth.

Is Adderall Causing Me to Grind My Teeth at Night?

2. Lower your Adderall dosage, or try to wean yourself off it

You don’t want to stop your ADHD medication – but grinding your teeth and clenching your jaws is the last thing you want to keep doing. Try reducing the dosage and see if it can reduce your bruxism severity. Though it is a temporary remedy, this actually works for some people. If it doesn’t work for you, you can switch to another type of ADHD medication. However, it is always important to talk to your doctor in advance for professional advice.

3. Magnesium

Medical experts have linked magnesium deficiency to teeth grinding and clenching. So getting more magnesium in your diets can help you reduce the effects of bruxism. Foods rich in this mineral include spinach, pumpkin seeds, almonds, chard, avocado, figs, bananas, black beans, and yogurt.

You can also get supplements with magnesium glycinate which will help you reduce the long-term amphetamine tolerance, thus helping attenuate bruxism. Magnesium glycinate does not pose gastrointestinal side effects like other supplements that have magnesium oxide do.

4. Partake in calming practices

Getting a professional massage can help ease the muscle tension in your head. It will relax the muscles in your jaws which go a long way to help you reduce the effects of bruxism.

You can also learn how to exercise your jaws every night before you to bed. Various body-mind exercises such as deep breathing and meditation can boost your mindfulness to boost your self-awareness. While you may not notice it, these exercises can help you stop jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

mindful practices to stop teeth grinding

Is Adderall causing me to grind my teeth at night? Possibly. Maybe even probably.

It is worth mentioning that if you are already experiencing severe bruxism, besides using the remedies discussed above, it is extremely important that you seek professional help from your dentist. Severe bruxism poses very serious dental problems that you should not underestimate. Again, if you are using ADHD medications, use them only for the intended purpose and avoid recreational use.

We hope this post has been a helpful resource for you and remember to wear your night guard!