What causes teeth grinding during sleep?

Teeth grinding during sleep is a common phenomenon that may be caused by various factors.

1. Psychological factors: Excessive mental tension, anxiety, and stress can cause abnormal excitement of the sympathetic nervous system, which may lead to teeth grinding during sleep. In children, excessive excitement or physical activity during the day may also cause teeth grinding during sleep.

2. Oral factors: Misaligned teeth, improper occlusion, or dental defects may lead to nighttime teeth grinding as a means to adjust the occlusal relationship.

3. Nutritional and health factors: Calcium deficiency, gastrointestinal dysfunction, lack of trace elements, and intestinal parasitic infections may all affect sleep quality and lead to teeth grinding. Particularly, intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms may stimulate the central nervous system during their nocturnal activities, triggering teeth grinding.

4. Genetic factors: Teeth grinding also has a certain hereditary tendency. Teeth grinding during childhood may be related to genetic factors.

If teeth grinding significantly affects quality of life, timely medical consultation should be sought for professional evaluation and treatment.