Conditions / Clenching & grinding
Clenching & grinding
Often a stress-and-posture pattern, clenching and grinding (bruxism) load the jaw, teeth, and muscles in ways that cause pain and wear over time.
Reviewed by Gina Sabbak, RDH · Myofunctional Therapist, Louisville KY. Last reviewed . Educational content — not a substitute for in-person evaluation.
What it is
Bruxism is the technical term for clenching or grinding the teeth. It can happen during the day (often stress-related) or at night (sleep-related).
Mouth breathing, low tongue posture, and forward head posture are often overlooked contributors.
Common signs
- Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
- Jaw soreness on waking
- Frequent headaches
- Cracked teeth or fillings
- Partner reports grinding sounds at night
How myofunctional therapy may help
Educational, not diagnostic. Outcomes vary; results are not guaranteed.
Establish correct tongue and lip posture to support, rather than load, the jaw.
Build day-time awareness of clenching patterns.
Address mouth breathing that contributes to night-time patterns.
What to expect
A typical program runs 3–6 months.
Coordinated care with your dentist is essential, especially for night-guard planning.
Keep learning
Related reading
- What is myofunctional therapy, really?
Educational article (~5 min read).
- Customized Exercise Programs
How this service supports this condition.
- All conditions we work with
The full set of myofunctional patterns we support.
- How we may help
Overview of the assessment and program structure.
Common questions about clenching & grinding
- Can myofunctional therapy help with teeth grinding (bruxism)?
- Myofunctional therapy can help with the muscle and posture contributors to clenching and grinding — particularly daytime clenching, low tongue posture, and mouth breathing. It does not replace a night guard if your dentist has recommended one. Coordinated care with your dentist is essential, especially for night-guard planning and monitoring tooth wear.
- What is the connection between clenching and tongue posture?
- When the tongue rests low in the mouth, the jaw is not supported from above. Other muscles — including the chewing muscles — pick up the load. This is one of the patterns that can lead to daytime clenching and contribute to night-time grinding. Establishing correct tongue-up posture, where the tongue rests gently against the palate, supports the jaw from above and is part of how therapy addresses clenching.
- Does a night guard address the cause of grinding?
- A night guard protects the teeth from wear and reduces some of the load on the joint, but it does not address the underlying muscle and posture patterns that contribute to grinding in the first place. For that reason, dentists often recommend a night guard alongside therapy rather than as a standalone solution. Therapy targets the patterns; the guard protects the teeth while that work is happening.
Open references
Where the illustrations come from
The anatomical illustrations on this page are drawn from openly licensed educational sources. We attribute them in the caption; the canonical sources are linked here for anyone who wants to verify or use them.