Most people with bruxism are between 20 and 40 years old - the phase in their lives with the most stress. Other causes of bruxism are a misalignment of the jaws, a bad filling, bridge or crown. The rough surfaces are simply ground away.

There could also be an orthopaedic cause of teeth grinding such as bad body posture or a disorder of the spinal column that can have an indirect influence on the jaw bone and surrounding muscle.

"When there is more than one cause of bruxism, it usually leads to pain," says Oliver Ahlers, director of the Center for Temperomanduibular Joint Disorder in Hamburg, who points out that anyone who often wakes up with a sore jaw or a headache should be mindful of the possible cause.

"A change in the shape of the teeth or a smoothly worn cusp are indications of bruxism at night," Peroz says.

Doering recommends consulting a dentist if you think you grind your teeth or clench your jaw bone at night.

A dentist may not always easily recognize the symptoms of bruxism just by a physical examination. Once bruxism has been identified as the cause of pain, treatment usually follows in the form of a mouth guard.

"The guard is made from transparent plastic. It does not stop grinding but protects the teeth from abrasion," Peroz says.

The only way to combat the psychosomatic causes is to try and relax and deal with stress in a different manner. Methods of dealing with stress include progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training or yoga.

"Apart from when swallowing, teeth should never lay directly on top of each other," says Peroz. The jaw bones should be relaxed, with the teeth apart and not touching each other.

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