Most of what is written about grinding is about the night, when you cannot do anything about it. Daytime clenching is different. It is usually silent, it happens while you are awake, and that means you can learn to catch it.
What awake bruxism is
Bruxism covers clenching and grinding during both sleep and wakefulness. In the daytime it often takes the form of clenching, holding the teeth together, or bracing the jaw, sometimes for long stretches and usually without realizing it. A 2026 systematic review describes it as reported by about one in four people. Its effects range from tooth wear and broken fillings to aching jaw muscles from the constant load.
The key point is that your teeth are not meant to be in contact most of the day. Cleveland Clinic advises keeping them slightly apart unless you are eating, swallowing or speaking. If you notice right now that your back teeth are touching, that is the habit this article is about.
Common triggers
Concentration. Cleveland Clinic notes that many people find their jaw clenching when they are concentrating hard, whether that is driving, working through a spreadsheet or threading a needle.
Stress. Feeling anxious, stressed or angry makes clenching more likely, and it is one of the best-known drivers of bruxism in general.
Screens. Long, focused screen sessions are a common place to catch yourself clenching. Whether screens themselves cause it is less clear. A 2026 review of studies in children and teenagers could not establish a link, while a 2021 study of young adults tied stressful and excessive smartphone use to a higher risk of bruxism. Treat the screen as a useful cue rather than a proven cause.
Exercise. Many people bite down hard during heavy effort. A 2025 review of studies in athletes found bruxism more common than in the general population, with weightlifting and combat sports among the highest. If you lift, notice what your jaw does on the hardest repetitions.
Caffeine. Cleveland Clinic reports that people who drink a lot of caffeine (more than six cups of coffee a day), drink alcohol or smoke are about twice as likely to grind their teeth. Cutting back, particularly later in the day, is a sensible experiment.
Lips together, teeth apart
The resting position we teach is simple: lips gently together, teeth slightly apart, jaw muscles loose. It can feel odd at first, because for a habitual clencher, teeth together feels normal. MedlinePlus recommends relaxing the face and jaw muscles throughout the day with the aim of making it a habit. Try it now: let your lower jaw drop a few millimeters behind closed lips and feel the muscles in your cheeks and temples soften.
Building the habit
You cannot fix what you do not notice, so the work is mostly about reminders. The same 2026 review looked at the published treatments for awake clenching. It found that most fall under behavioral approaches, and that biofeedback, habit reversal, reminder prompts and counseling with self-management generally had positive effects. It also said the evidence is limited: nine small studies in total.
In practice, habit reversal means pairing a cue with a check. A small sticker on your monitor or steering wheel, a phone reminder every hour, or a routine moment such as every red light or every email you send becomes the prompt to ask: are my teeth touching? If they are, go back to the rest position. Over a few weeks, many people find they catch it sooner. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research also suggests cutting down related habits such as gum chewing and nail biting, and MedlinePlus advises going easy on hard, dense foods while the muscles are sore.
When it is more than a habit
Cleveland Clinic notes that awake clenching may not need treatment if you can raise your awareness and reduce stress. It is worth seeing us if you have jaw pain, headaches at the temples, teeth that are chipping or feel sore when you bite, or fillings that keep breaking. That last one can be a sign of a cracked tooth. MedlinePlus advises contacting a dentist right away if you have trouble eating or opening your mouth.
Daytime clenchers often grind at night too, so we check for the signs of sleep grinding as well. A night guard covers the night. For people who clench heavily in the day and have not managed to break the habit, Botox in the jaw muscles is one option we offer. It is an off-label use that reduces the force of clenching rather than stopping it. If the joint itself clicks or locks, read TMJ disorder: why your jaw hurts, or start at our teeth grinding treatment page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my teeth touch when my mouth is closed?+
Generally not. The relaxed resting position is lips together with the teeth slightly apart. Teeth normally meet only briefly, when you chew or swallow.
Why do I clench my jaw when I concentrate?+
It is a very common response to focus, effort and stress, and most people do it without noticing. Using a regular cue, like a sticker on your screen or a phone reminder, to check your jaw is the most practical way to catch it.
Does a night guard help daytime clenching?+
A night guard is worn during sleep, so it protects against night grinding rather than daytime clenching. For the daytime habit, awareness and reminders come first. For heavy clenchers who cannot break the habit, we can discuss other options such as Botox.
Cavities develop gradually, not overnight. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starches, producing acids that pull minerals from your enamel. Saliva repairs some damage, but frequent acid attacks overwhelm it, and plaque lets bacteria attack the tooth directly. Left unchecked, decay progresses from the enamel into the dentin, pulp, and eventually an abscess. Good hygiene, diet, and regular dental visits keep cavities preventable.