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Plenty of people find out they grind their teeth the same way, from someone else. A partner mentions the noise at two in the morning, or a dentist points out worn spots during a routine checkup, and it comes as a genuine surprise. Most people who grind their teeth at night have absolutely no idea they are doing it.

What is bruxism?

The medical name for teeth grinding is bruxism, and it covers both grinding and clenching, whether that happens while you are awake without realising it or during sleep. Sleep bruxism is considered its own kind of sleep related movement disorder, separate from the version that shows up during a stressful moment at your desk or in life in general.

How common it really is

It is far more common than most people assume. For an example, around half the Australian population grinds their teeth from time to time, and roughly 5% do it regularly enough for it to count as a habit. Estimates for how many adults grind specifically during sleep vary, but studies put the figure somewhere in the range of 8 to 16%, which means a genuinely large number of people are doing this most nights without ever knowing. This picture is true even in the South African context.

Why it happens

Stress sits at the centre of most cases. Doctors have not pinned down one single cause, but the strongest and most consistent link is to anxiety, stress, anger or tension, particularly during waking hours, while sleep bruxism tends to be connected to brief disturbances in the sleep cycle itself. Given how much daily stress South Africans are already carrying, with Gallup’s 2026 workplace report placing the country among the highest in the world for it, it would not be surprising if a fair number of people grinding their teeth at night have never connected the two. Other contributors include a misaligned bite, sleep disorders like sleep apnoea, heavy caffeine or alcohol use, smoking, and certain medications, including some antidepressants.

The damage it can do

None of this stays contained to just the teeth. Over time, grinding can lead to flattened, cracked or chipped teeth, worn enamel, jaw soreness, and a dull headache that tends to start at the temples. Some people wake up with a sore or tight jaw that takes a while to loosen up or notice their teeth have become more sensitive to hot and cold than they used to be. If left unchecked, it can eventually lead to loose teeth or jaw problems that take far more than a filling to fix.

How a dentist usually catches it first

This is often one of those cases where a dentist spots the problem before the person sitting in the chair has any clue it exists. Flattened or worn tooth surfaces show up clearly during a routine exam, long before someone connects their morning headaches or sore jaw to what is happening while they sleep. It is a good reminder of why regular checkups matter even when nothing feels obviously wrong.

What helps

The good news is that bruxism is very manageable once it has been identified. A custom night guard, fitted by a dentist, takes the pressure off your teeth while you sleep and is usually the first line of defence. Beyond that, addressing the root cause matters just as much as protecting the teeth themselves, whether that means working on stress levels, cutting back on caffeine or alcohol later in the day, or getting an underlying sleep disorder properly treated. In more severe cases, a dentist may suggest additional options, but for most people, a well fitted guard and a bit of attention to stress makes a real difference.

Catching it before it costs you

Teeth grinding rarely announces itself. It tends to hide behind headaches, a tired jaw, or a partner’s complaint about strange noises at night, until a dentist finally connects the dots. Getting it checked early is far simpler, and far less expensive, than repairing the damage it leaves behind.

At Affinity Dental, regular checkups exist for exactly this kind of thing, catching the quiet habits before they turn into a much bigger problem. Don’t have a dental cover? Get a quote today.