Do you often wake up with a painful neck but don’t know where it comes from? Have you ever thought of connecting your neck pain to your teeth grinding? You might be surprised to learn that grinding your teeth could be the sneaky culprit behind your pain and discomfort.
This article sheds light on how teeth grinding, or bruxism, as doctors call it, can trigger neck pain. Read along as we digest the connection between bruxism and neck pain, bite by bite.
Does Bruxism Cause Neck Pain?
Yes, teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause neck pain.
Bruxism is the involuntary, unconscious, and excessive grinding of teeth. This means there’s forceful contact between the upper and lower jaws and sets of teeth, which happens without your control.
Bruxism can be classified into the following two types:
- Awake (diurnal) bruxism: The type that occurs while awake
- Sleep (nocturnal) bruxism: The type that occurs during sleep
So, how is neck pain connected to bruxism? Let’s discuss.
What Effect Does Jaw Clenching Have on the Neck?
Jaw clenching and tooth grinding may seem like innocent habits that will surely disappear after a while. After all, you’re not even aware of them! The truth is that these habits may go on to negatively impact other regions of your body, including the neck. As a result, pain and discomfort may appear.
When you constantly clench your teeth, it generates excess pressure on your jaw. The bite force during bruxism might be even greater than the maximum bite force you can generate at will! That is quite a lot of pressure!
But, while certainly impressive, one of the structures that isn’t so impressed and must cope with this added pressure is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint is located on both sides of your head, close to your ears. It makes biting, chewing, and other jaw movements possible. In bruxism, the TMJ might become damaged and painful. The pain may then be referred to the neck.
Furthermore, bruxism may also cause headaches by affecting nerves and muscles. Headaches may then spread toward the neck and shoulders.
Finally, persistent tooth grinding can cause overactivity of the neck muscles as well. This is one more mechanism through which it may lead to neck discomfort. Let’s see how this happens!
Can Grinding Teeth Cause Neck Muscle Pain?
The whole body is a balanced muscular system where every part may affect another. In this sense, studies have analyzed how forceful jaw clenching can affect nearby neck muscles and cause neck muscle pain.
One particular study also measured how strong the bite force is and how long it lasts during bruxism. It measured neck muscle contractions with the help of surface and wire electrodes. This process is called electromyography.
The study found an evident activation of neck muscles during tooth grinding. This finding points to a likely connection between bruxism and neck muscle pain.
Important note: Just because you have neck pain doesn’t necessarily mean you have bruxism. Isolated neck pain does not indicate bruxism. You might consider the possibility of teeth grinding only if your neck pain appears with other bruxism symptoms, such as tooth and jaw problems. Let’s read along to find out what these other symptoms are.
What Muscles Are Affected by Bruxism?
Bruxism primarily affects the so-called masticatory, or chewing, muscles. These muscles act on the temporomandibular joint to move the jaw up, down, and sideways. They are also the ones that contract involuntarily during tooth grinding. The masticatory group contains the following muscles:
- The temporalis. This is a large, flat muscle on both sides of your head.
- The medial and lateral pterygoids. These are triangular muscles close to the TMJs.
- The masseter. This muscle lies on both sides of the face region and connects to the lower jaw border.
As said, tooth grinding can also take a toll on the muscles that surround the neck. These muscles are involved in neck and spine movements, as well as posture. They include the following:
- The sternocleidomastoid. The sternocleidomastoid is a long (and long-spelled) muscle that connects the jaw to the collarbone.
- The trapezius. The trapezius is a single, triangle-shaped muscle that spans the back of your neck and upper back.
- The levator scapulae. This muscle lies above the shoulder blades and connects to the neck.
- The supra- and infrahyoid muscles. These form two deep groups of four muscles, one above and the other below the hyoid bone in the neck.
- The semispinalis capitis. This muscle lies on the back and connects the spine to the neck and skull.
- The semispinalis cervicis. This long muscle runs along both sides of the spine.
- Multifidi muscles. These muscles also lie along both sides of the spine. They represent the deepest back muscle layer.
How Long Does Teeth Grinding Neck Pain Last?
The answer to how long teeth grinding pain lasts may differ from person to person. The duration of neck pain depends primarily on the severity of the grinding. Some people might experience immediate relief once the grinding stops. Others might experience pain for a few more hours or even days. The pain may continue due to the muscle strain caused by intense and forceful jaw clenches.
One thing’s for certain, though: Neck pain will last longer if you don’t address it. Consulting your healthcare provider and getting early treatment for bruxism is crucial.
What Problems Can Teeth Grinding Cause?
Teeth grinding can result in more than just a worn-down smile. It may give rise to many debilitating consequences. It manifests in the form of problems that affect different body parts. Let’s go through some of the main ones.
1. Pain: What Kind of Pain Does Bruxism Cause?
Bruxism is known to cause a spectrum of discomfort and pain, ranging from the head to the upper body parts. A 2016 study states that the pain is more intense in certain, more tender locations in the head and neck muscles. These are called trigger points, whereas the type of pain in bruxism is called myofascial pain.
The tension that bruxism causes in the muscles may lead to pain in various locations, as follows:
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Earache
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
The study mentioned above also says that increased bruxism severity is associated with greater pain intensity and lower thresholds for pain. A low pain threshold means your pain receptors fire more impulses when exposed to painful factors.
How Do I Know if My Headache is From Grinding My Teeth?
Headaches represent a common symptom of bruxism. They are characterized by the following qualities:
- In cases of sleep bruxism, they happen in the morning
- They are tension-type headaches
- They are associated with tooth problems, facial pain, jaw and neck pain, and poor sleep quality.
According to a study, 65% of patients with bruxism report headaches.
They occur much more often in cases of awake bruxism. Patients with awake bruxism have a 5–17 times greater chance of developing tension-type headaches. Generally, patients with bruxism are three times more likely to have headaches.
Where is a Bruxism Headache Located?
Bruxism headaches are tension-type headaches. A tension-type headache is a moderate headache that usually feels like “a tight band around your forehead and sides.”
Bruxism headaches usually start in the temporal parts or sides of your head.
How Do I Get Rid of a Headache From Grinding My Teeth?
The best way to relieve bruxism headaches is to treat the underlying cause of your condition.
You can take painkillers for temporary pain relief. But you need to consult your doctor to eliminate the root of your problem and prevent it from happening again. Continue reading to find out about the most effective bruxism treatment options.
2. Tooth and Oral Health Problems
As expected, teeth suffer the most from the forceful clashing of the jaws. The constant, uncontrolled bites can also damage the insides of the mouth, including the tongue and mucosa.
Signs and symptoms of tooth and mouth problems from bruxism include the following:
- Tooth abrasion. This represents the scraping of the tooth surfaces from the repeated grinding movements.
- Wear facets. These are smooth areas created on the biting surfaces of the teeth as they rub together repeatedly.
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Overly sensitive teeth
- Decomposition of the outer tooth enamel, exposing the dentin (inside of the tooth)
- Loss of tooth fillings
- Tongue indentations. Indentations are marks on the tongue created when the teeth come together. These marks on the tongue are shaped like the teeth that bite it.
- Damage to the inside of the cheek
3. Jaw Symptoms
Forceful jaw clenching affects the TMJ, leading to temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Jaw problems resulting from bruxism may manifest as follows:
- Tense jaw muscles
- Dislocation of the jaw
- Locking of the jaw
- A popping or clicking sound in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
The jaw pain in TMD may refer to the ear, causing secondary earaches.
4. Nerves: Can Grinding My Teeth Cause Nerve Damage?
Yes, by grinding your teeth, you may also cause nerve damage. The intense jaw clenching in bruxism may damage the teeth, face bones, and surrounding muscles. By damaging these structures, it may also affect nearby nerves. Let’s see what nerves suffer the most.
What Nerves Are Affected by Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding primarily affects the tooth canal nerves. These are small nerves that are protected by the outer and inner tooth layers. With repeated grinding, the outer and inner tooth layers wear away, exposing the nerves. As a result, facial pain in the upper or lower jaw region may appear.
Bruxism may also affect the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve that branches into the facial region. Overstimulation of the trigeminal nerve may cause jaw pain and headaches that spread to the neck and shoulders.
5. Whole-Body Symptoms: Can Teeth Grinding Affect the Body?
Bruxism can be associated with different factors that may affect the whole body. Besides causing pain in various body parts, teeth grinding may negatively affect mental health. This effect, in turn, leads to more pronounced bruxism symptoms.
People suffering from bruxism report the following additional complaints:
- Poor sleep quality. Disturbed sleep may lead to:
- Sleep arousal (light sleep)
- Tiredness during the day
- Inability to recuperate for the missed sleep hours
- Insomnia (sleeplessness)
- Negative self-perception (mainly because of the tooth changes)
- Anxiety disorder
- Increased stress
- Mild-to-severe depression
- Dysphoria (dissatisfaction with life)
What Are 3 Common Causes of Bruxism?
The cause of bruxism isn’t always straightforward. It’s linked to various factors. Here are the three most common ones:
- High stress and anxiety (the most common causes).
Bruxism often affects people with nervous tension, anger, and frustration. It also affects aggressive, hurried, or overly competitive personality types. - Disturbed sleep from problems like sleep apnea and snoring.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breath temporarily stops and restarts while sleeping. The breath pauses during sleep may provide a window for bruxism episodes to happen.
One in four people with sleep apnea also suffers from bruxism. Snoring has also been found to occur together with sleep bruxism, especially when sleeping on your back. - Chemical changes in the central nervous system.
An imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system may also be the cause of bruxism.
These tiny substances carry nerve impulses between different parts of the brain and body. The imbalance may result from:
- Medications, such as SSRIs (selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitors)
- Recreational drugs, such as ecstasy and cocaine
- Smoking
- Having too much caffeine (drinking too much coffee)
- Drinking too much alcohol
Bruxism is fairly common. A 2019 study says that 5% of the total population suffers from awake bruxism and 16.5% from sleep bruxism.
Teeth grinding is more common in children and teenagers. It often stops when they reach adulthood and when their adult teeth have come through.
What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Teeth Grinding?
According to a 2021 study, sleep bruxism may be connected to vitamin D deficiency and low calcium consumption. This connection may be explained by the effect calcium has on the nervous and muscular systems. Low vitamin D is also associated with sleep problems and a higher level of stress and anxiety.
However, this finding only shows an association between bruxism and vitamin levels. More research is needed to find out if vitamin deficiencies directly cause teeth grinding.
What Helps Neck Pain From Teeth Clenching?
Treatment for neck pain from teeth grinding depends on the type of bruxism and its underlying cause. Your healthcare provider will devise a treatment plan for you based on:
- Your age
- Your overall health and medical history
- Your response to medicines, procedures, or therapies
- Your opinion or preference
Let’s go into more detail about the methods used to treat bruxism and its associated neck pain.
Can Bruxism Be Cured?
We have yet to find a cure for bruxism. In most cases, though, bruxism can be successfully treated. Treatment may include the following methods:
- Occlusal adjustments. This type of treatment involves using procedures and splints to correct how the mouth closes. The mechanism and benefits of this method are still under debate.
- Behavior changes. Your doctor may teach you how to properly rest your tongue, teeth, and lips. You may also learn how to rest the tongue upward while keeping teeth apart and lips closed. This technique relieves jaw discomfort.
- Maintaining sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene means making some changes to your habits before sleeping. To improve sleep:
- Avoid tobacco, coffee, or alcohol at night.
- Limit physical activity and mental stimulation before going to sleep.
- Sleep in a quiet and dark room.
- Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy may be helpful for the anxiety and stress associated with bruxism. It can be effective in promoting calmness and increasing voluntary muscle control.
- Physical Therapy. Physical therapy may be effective if bruxism is associated with neck muscle pain and stiffness.
- Relaxation Training. This training involves teaching you how to relax a muscle group voluntarily.
- Mouthguard. Your doctor may recommend wearing a plastic mouthguard at night. The mouthguard can absorb the force of the bruxism bites and prevent damage. It can also be used during the day.
- Biofeedback. This method involves the use of an electronic instrument that measures the amount of muscle activity in the mouth and jaw. It then signals you when there is too much muscle activity. Knowing this, you can take steps to change that behavior. Biofeedback is especially helpful for daytime bruxism.
- Medications. Meds may apply in cases of chemical change-related bruxism. If a particular medicine is the culprit behind bruxism, it should be stopped and changed. Medications for bruxism treatment should be used for short periods and only when other methods don’t work. They may include the following:
Diazepam can be prescribed for a few days to lower sleep disturbances and anxiety levels.
- Botulinum Toxin A. Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin produced by a bacterium. It is used to treat bruxism and for cosmetic purposes. Botulinum toxin injections in the masseter and temporal muscles have been proven effective in improving the quality of life of patients with bruxism.
- Contingent electrical stimulation (CES). CES applies low-level electrical stimulation to the chewing muscles. It intends to limit their activity.
How Do I Stop Grinding My Teeth in My Sleep Naturally?
If you suffer from bruxism and neck pain, there are plenty of ways to help yourself. Try out the tips below to improve your condition and ease the pain:
- Do something that relaxes you. Try out breathing exercises or meditation, or listen to calming music.
- Do jaw movement exercises at home (cautiously). Here’s what you can do:
- Put your hands on your TMJ joints (close to your ears)
- Slowly open your mouth and hold it open for 5–10 seconds
- Slowly close your mouth
- Repeat these steps for 10 minutes, 3 times per day
- Avoid hard foods like nuts, popcorn, and candies
- Be cautious with peanut butter and other sticky foods
- Don’t chew gum
- Create a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night. Make sure to sleep in a relaxed mood in a dark, quiet environment.
- Adjust your sleeping position or pillow for additional head and neck support
- Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for 20 to 30 minutes to help reduce pain or swelling. Heat also works for some people.
- Have regular dental checkups.
What Happens if Bruxism is Not Treated?
Teeth grinding might seem like just an annoying habit or a minor issue. But leaving it unchecked can trigger more severe health problems. If left untreated, bruxism can cause permanent tooth and jaw defects. Overall well-being can be affected too. Neck pain, shoulder tension, and headaches may become chronic and worsen life quality.
Remember, always take any form of pain seriously. It's your body's way of telling you something is not quite right. Don't hesitate to reach out to a doctor or dental professional. The sooner you address the issue, the better your chances of preventing further damage and complications.
Takeaway
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause neck pain.
Bruxism is the involuntary, unconscious, and excessive grinding of teeth. It can be classified into the following two types:
- Awake (diurnal) bruxism
- Sleep (nocturnal) bruxism
Constant clenching generates excess pressure on your jaw. Persistent tooth grinding can also cause overactivity of the neck muscles. Overactivity of the neck muscles leads to neck pain.
Bruxism primarily affects the masticatory, or chewing, muscles. The type of neck pain associated with bruxism is called myofascial pain.
The tension that bruxism causes in the muscles may lead to pain in various locations, as follows:
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Earache
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
Severe bruxism is associated with more intense pain and lower thresholds for pain.
People suffering from bruxism report the following additional complaints:
- Poor sleep quality. Disturbed sleep may lead to:
- Sleep arousal (light sleep)
- Tiredness during the day
- Inability to recuperate for the missed sleep hours
- Insomnia (sleeplessness)
- Negative self-perception (mainly because of the tooth changes)
- Anxiety disorder
- Increased stress
- Mild-to-severe depression
- Dysphoria (dissatisfaction with life)
The most common causes of bruxism include the following:
- High stress and anxiety (the most common causes)
- Disturbed sleep from problems
- Chemical changes in the central nervous system
Sleep bruxism may be connected to vitamin D deficiency and low calcium consumption.
We have yet to find a cure for bruxism. In most cases, bruxism and its associated neck pain can be successfully treated. Treatment may include the following methods:
- Occlusal adjustments
- Behavior changes
- Maintaining sleep hygiene
- Psychotherapy
- Physical Therapy
- Relaxation Training
- Mouthguards
- Biofeedback
- Medications
- Botulinum Toxin A
- Contingent electrical stimulation (CES)
Without treatment, the pain associated with bruxism may become chronic and worsen life quality.
