Expert Explains Why Teeth Grinding at Night Could Be Aging You Faster

Teeth grinding isn’t just a dental problem. It may also speed up aging.

Research shows that people who grind their teeth during sleep often have poorer recovery and higher levels of inflammation—both linked to chronic disease and faster biological aging. In a 2024 study that tracked overnight sleep and blood markers, adults who ground or clenched their teeth during sleep had more nighttime awakenings, poorer sleep, and signs of increased inflammation—especially when the grinding was more severe.

That matches what Jonathan B. Levine, DMD, founder of New York City–based Smile House, sees in his dental-longevity clinic. “Teeth are designed to last decades,” Levine says. “But chronic clenching and grinding can apply hundreds of pounds of pressure—far more than normal chewing.”

Over time, that excess force wears down enamel, shifts bite alignment, and exposes sensitive tooth roots. The result: more cavities, gum recession, jaw pain, and chronic stress on the nervous system.

The bigger issue, Levine says, is that most people don’t feel it happening. “This process is usually silent,” he explains. “By the time patients notice symptoms, significant damage has often already occurred.”

Why Teeth Grinding Is Closely Linked to Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Teeth grinding rarely happens on its own. Levine says it’s often tied to breathing problems during sleep, like snoring, mouth breathing, or sleep apnea. “Roughly 90 percent of patients with airway issues grind their teeth at night,” he says, as the jaw instinctively shifts forward to help reopen a narrowed airway.

When the bite is off, the jaw and facial muscles work overtime. That keeps the nervous system switched on, making deep sleep harder to reach. Poor sleep then raises stress and inflammation, which can trigger even more nighttime clenching.

“It becomes a compounding cycle,” Levine says. “Patients often treat the symptoms—headaches, jaw pain, worn teeth—without addressing the root cause.”

Why Dental Health Is a Longevity Issue, Not a Cosmetic One

From a longevity standpoint, enamel and jaw alignment play a larger role than most people realize. Enamel doesn’t regenerate. Once it’s worn down, bacteria can penetrate more easily through the gums and into the bloodstream, contributing to systemic inflammation—something research has linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and accelerated aging.

“Protecting enamel and stabilizing the bite isn’t cosmetic dentistry,” Levine says. “It’s preventive medicine. You’re supporting sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and long-term resilience.”

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Why Boutique Hotels Are Taking Sleep, and Dental Health, Seriously

Poor sleep does more than cause fatigue, particularly for weary travelers. Long days, late nights, and disrupted schedules can increase jaw tension, trigger teeth grinding, and accelerate dental wear. That’s why some boutique hotels are now treating sleep as a health priority, not just a luxury perk.

At Equinox Hotel New York, guests can book a Sleep Lab room designed to study how people really sleep outside a clinical setting. “Traditional labs can change sleep because they feel unfamiliar,” says Matthew Walker, PhD, a sleep scientist who helped create the program.

One key finding: light matters. “Lowering light in the last hour before bed allows melatonin to rise and helps people fall asleep faster,” Walker says. Pairing that with a simple relaxation routine reduces nighttime awakenings and supports deeper rest.

The same thinking is shaping experiences at ModernHaus Soho's Deep Sleep Suite, where sleep-forward rooms use softer lighting and guided wind-down cues. The hotel also offers recovery options like the Haus of Glow Pop-Up, where guests can relax with infrared sauna and cold plunge treatments designed to help decompress after a long day of travel. The goal is to help guests fully power down—reducing the nighttime tension that can drive teeth grinding.

What You Can Do Today to Protect Your Teeth, Sleep, and Recovery

You don’t need a fancy hotel room or to wait for cracked teeth to act. Levine recommends treating early warning signs—morning jaw tightness, increasing tooth sensitivity, snoring, or restless sleep—the way an athlete treats early joint pain: as a signal to intervene early.

Here’s where to start:

• Protect your enamel daily. Grinding wears teeth down faster, so using a fluoride toothpaste like Twice Oral Wellness Toothpaste, plus an Oral Wellness Immunity Rinse, helps strengthen enamel and protect against excess wear.
• Create a wind-down window. Blue-light–blocking options such as ROKA WindDown eyeglasses can help reduce evening light exposure and support melatonin production.
• Support daily movement and recovery. Comfortable, low-restriction training gear like the Vuori Kore Short and Strato Tech Tee makes it easier to stay active—an underrated factor in improving sleep quality.
• Consider an oral appliance. A custom mouthpiece worn at night can improve breathing and reduce teeth grinding by supporting better jaw position. It’s a simpler alternative to CPAP—a sleep apnea device that uses pressurized air through a mask. Ask your dentist whether this could help you.

For most guys, dental wear and sleep disruption are often dismissed as minor inconveniences. But Levine sees them differently: early biomarkers of systemic stress. “The goal is to spot risk factors early,” he says, “and correct them before breakdown occurs, not after.”

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