Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) refers to teeth grinding and the associated muscle activity. It names the condition itself, rather than a treatment or product used in an attempt to influence that activity.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) brings both names for the condition together in one clear overview.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
None of these options has good evidence yet. Best evidence first.
1 option:1 not enough evidence
TENS / EMS TherapypracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
In a randomized trial of 31 people with bruxism, TENS applied to the masseter reduced discomfort and oral parafunctional behaviors in the study sample.
Open the TENS / EMS Therapy page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition1 listedThe best we have, but the evidence is still weak
- →PracticesTENS / EMS TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical
In a randomized trial of 31 people with bruxism, TENS applied to the masseter reduced discomfort and oral parafunctional behaviors in the study sample.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open TENS / EMS TherapyStudy result
Bruxism was the co-diagnosis in all participants; masseter TENS reduced bruxism discomfort and oral parafunctional behaviours in this sample.
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worseNothing in this library is currently recorded as making Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) refers to teeth grinding and the associated muscle activity. It names the condition itself, rather than a treatment or product used in an attempt to influence that activity. In research, changes in muscle activity may be used to assess whether the condition has been affected.
Evidence-backed options
Lemon Balm (Melissa) has been studied as an option for bruxism, but the clinical finding available here does not show a reduction in muscle activity in children with bruxism. The preparation was a Melissa officinalis L. tincture used at the dose employed in that study.
This evidence does not establish that Lemon Balm (Melissa) reduces teeth grinding, and it does not provide a basis for judging effects in adults or in people with other health circumstances. The available information also does not specify how long the tincture was used or how quickly any effect might appear. Evidence should therefore be interpreted cautiously, particularly because a lack of observed reduction in this study does not answer every question about other preparations, treatment periods, or populations. Anyone considering options for a medical condition should discuss them with a clinician.