Young People's Teeth Grinding on the Rise, Dentists Warn — SkimNews
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Dr Aditi Desai, president of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine, says bruxism is "definitely on the rise" among young patients and links the trend to modern stress levels.
- The British Dental Association confirms anecdotal evidence of increasing bruxism but offers no specific figures; separate studies suggest nearly one in four people experience the condition.
- Ella, a 31-year-old with bruxism, paid privately for Botox injections in her masseter muscles — not routinely NHS-funded — reporting that the 3-4 month treatment let her sleep properly and reduced facial pain.
- Prof Frank Lobbezoo says bruxism is not always harmful: jaw movement activates salivary glands that clean and protect teeth, and preliminary research suggests chewing stimulates blood flow to the brain, aiding cognition.
- Dr Aditi Desai warns that obstructive sleep apnoea can be a serious underlying cause, with patients grinding to clear airway blockages — making bruxism in some cases "keep you alive."
- Dentist Riaz Yar frames bruxism as a "biopsychosocial issue" shaped by sleep, diet, weight, exercise, medication and sleep disorders, requiring a multidisciplinary approach rather than just a mouthguard.
- Psychotherapist Rahi Popat says more of his younger clients report grinding tied to "a really stressful time," with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy noting increased mentions in therapy sessions.
Why it matters: For the millions of Britons who grind their teeth, treatment can cost thousands of pounds privately — NHS doesn't routinely cover Botox for bruxism — and dentists warn that handing out mouthguards without investigating root causes like stress or sleep apnoea leaves the underlying condition untreated.
Ask SkimNews
