What exactly causes teeth grinding isn’t entirely known. Linked causes include stress, smoking, anxiety, the consumption of alcohol and sleep disorders.
Malocclusion – or a misaligned bite, with the upper and lower teeth not coming together properly as the jaws close – is also understood to be a factor in teeth grinding.
In general, it is far more common in people with sleep apnea and those who smoke, drink alcohol, and intake caffeine. The link to stress should also be taken into consideration as 70 percent of people grind their teeth when they are stressed.
Bruxism shows signs of being a hereditary condition, so if a person’s parents grind their teeth, there is a greater chance their children will as well. Malocclusion is also known to be hereditary.