Sufferers don’t realise they’re doing it when awake, and it often happens when asleep. The jaw movement can also cause facial pain, headaches, earache and stiffness in the jaw and surrounding muscles, which in turn can cause temporary difficulties with eating and jaw ‘popping’ or clicking. The NHS cites a primary cause of grinding as stress.

The many physical effects of stress can include headaches, muscle tension or pain, dizziness, sleep problems and feeling tired all the time. Mind says sufferers can also experience chest pain, panic attacks, high blood pressure, sexual problems, blurred eyesight, indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea and nausea. Symptoms of stress can include grinding teeth and other obsessive but often unconscious behaviours, such as picking at skin.

Visit mind.org.uk for support.

Images: NBC / Rex Features

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