Today, I’d like to explain to you the vicious cycle of teeth grinding and stress.

I’ve seen people say that teeth grinding or teeth clenching causes stress, and others say that stress causes teeth grinding or teeth clenching. Actually, it’s both.

Now you understand that your chronic teeth grinding is more of a coping mechanism for your unmanaged stress. So, every time you stress, because your mind has not picked up another healthier alternative to release your stress, the mind goes to that default habit, which is chronic teeth grinding. Every time you’re stressed, you end up grinding your teeth because your mind has gotten used to you grinding instead of dealing with that stress or picking up a healthy coping mechanism. This habit has developed over time to the point that it’s now beyond your control.

Teeth Grinding as an Unconscious Habit

Because this teeth grinding has become an unconscious habit and is now uncontrollable, you end up getting stressed because you can’t stop it. When we can’t stop a habit that is dangerous or harmful to us, like teeth grinding, which we know is harmful, it can lead to migraines, paying thousands of dollars to visit the dentist, or even requiring dental surgery. We know how painful it is to see a dentist, right?

Because you can’t stop it, you know it’s hurting you, and you end up getting frustrated. The more you get frustrated, the more you grind, so it becomes this vicious cycle where stress leads to you grinding more and more. As you grind more, you get stressed.

That’s the vicious cycle — they work together. That’s why having some initial awareness and being easy on yourself can help you stop your habits and reduce the stress that arises from your frustration or the inability to stop.

Just the fact that you can stop it and tell yourself, “Okay, I can stop this,” will lessen the stress. Trying to fight a habit you’ve had for a long time often leads to engaging in it more, but accepting it at least lessens some of the stress. It won’t solve the problem, but it will lessen it a bit, and when it lessens, you may start looking for solutions. Stress may lead you to grind more, and once you grind more, you end up getting more stressed.

Note from the Author

If you’re ready and you’d like my help with overcoming chronic teeth grinding and clenching habits for Improved Oral Health and Reduced Stress, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊. Disclaimer: I am not a Dentist, but as a therapist specializing in offering support and guidance in addressing the psychological factors contributing to bruxism.