Most people believe that grinding their teeth is because they are stressed. Stress has something to do with it in some instances but often is not the primary cause. Grinding teeth is often associated with airway issues. Serious airway issues, like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), are often accompanied by grinding of teeth. Teeth grinding occurs when a patient has an apneic event (stops breathing). In fact, OSA patients are 6 times more likely to suffer from grinding of their teeth than a normal population not suffering from OSA.

More recently we’ve noted that some of the worst sufferers of grinding problems are those who have a tongue tie. That means that the attachment at the base of the tongue does not allow for normal movement of the tongue. The connection is unclear, but it is gratifying to see people stop grinding their teeth when they have a tongue tie release. If you suffer from grinding your teeth it may be prudent for you to see if you have OSA and/or a tongue tie.