Over the years, our diet and hygiene have improved. Bruxing, however, has not. Men, women, and children are all equally affected. Bruxing is thought to result in a combination of emotional tension and a bad bite. Clenching the teeth is associated with anger in both humans and animals.
People learn to suppress their emotions by keeping their teeth together.
This can become an unconscious habit. You may learn to keep your teeth together all the time as a response to tension without realizing you are doing so. Except for when chewing, swallowing, or talking, the teeth and jaws should be in a rest position. A bad bite is another contributing factor to bruxing. If the teeth do not meet properly, or if one tooth hits before the others, the chewing muscles will become protective.