Chattering teeth is a bodily function in animals that occurs primarily in response to cold; the jaw muscles begin to
shiver leading teeth to crash together. It may also occur as a result of
bruxism
Bruxism is excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching. It is an oral parafunctional activity; i.e., it is unrelated to normal function such as eating or talking. Bruxism is a common behavior; reports of prevalence range from 8% to 31% in the gen ...
where emotional stress causes the jaw movements. Certain medications can lead to teeth chattering as a side effect, especially
antipsychotics
Antipsychotics, also known as neuroleptics, are a class of psychotropic medication primarily used to manage psychosis (including delusions, hallucinations, paranoia or disordered thought), principally in schizophrenia but also in a range of oth ...
and
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychological conditions.
SSRIs increase the extracellu ...
.
References
Symptoms and signs
Cold
Teeth
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