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If you notice your teeth are looking a little worn down, or you're waking up with jaw pain after what should've been a night of restful sleep, have you considered whether you're grinding your teeth?

Bruxism is a term that's used to describe the habitual action of excessive clenching or grinding of the teeth, says Dr. Shannon Kaiser, a general dentist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "We see this condition take place during waking hours, but more commonly at night, during the subconscious time," she says. Often, people don't even realize they're doing it.

There are lots of reasons why someone could be grinding their teeth - from stress and anxiety, to taking certain medications. But how do you manage bruxism? Here's what experts need you to know.

What is bruxism?

"Bruxism is repetitive jaw muscle activity that's characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, and/or by bracing or thrusting of the mandible (lower jaw)," says Dr. Michele Schultz, a board-certified orofacial pain specialist and assistant professor in the departments of diagnostic sciences and restorative dentistry at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

There are a few telltale signs of bruxism. "A general dentist is most likely going to suspect that a patient is clenching or grinding when they see significant tooth wear (called attrition or abrasion)," says Dr. Seema Kurup, a board-certified orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders specialist and an associate professor and division chair of oral medicine and orofacial pain at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.

As bruxism progresses, patients are likely to complain about tooth sensitivity. And beyond the obvious tooth wear that a general dentist could observe, repetitive actions of the jaw muscle activity could cause someone to experience muscle pain. So it's not uncommon for some people to notice pain or stiffness in the jaw when they wake up, especially if they have sleep bruxism or if they experience jaw pain during the day (especially due to stress), Kurup says.

If you're jaw clenching for an extended period of time, it could cause fractures in your teeth, or contribute to temporomandibular disorders, says Kaiser.

Why am I grinding my teeth?

Chronic teeth grinding might not be the result of one particular entity, but rather a combination of factors, says Kurup. Here are a few possible reasons why you could be grinding your teeth.

How to stop teeth grinding, how to stop clenching jaw

If your dentist says you are clenching and grinding your teeth, there are a few potential solutions:

"While it's possible that someone could grow out of bruxism (if it is purely habitual), if you've been clenching your jaw for many years and when associated with multiple other conditions, it could be difficult to completely control it," says Kurup. "At that point, it's more so about mitigating symptoms and signs. Patients should be educated that 'management' can often become the cure," she says.

If you're concerned that you're grinding and clenching your teeth, pay a visit to your dentist, who can assess your symptoms and offer potential treatment options, says Schultz.