Medically reviewed by the clinical team at Kapoor's Safe Hands Dental
Most people who grind their teeth at night have no idea they're doing it. It's usually a partner who hears it, or a dentist who spots the wear. Left alone, grinding can wear teeth down, crack fillings and crowns, and leave you with a sore jaw and headaches. The good news is that it's easy to protect your teeth once you know.
Key takeaways
- Most people who grind at night don't know they do.
- Signs include a sore jaw, flat or chipped teeth and morning headaches.
- A custom night guard protects teeth but doesn't cure grinding.
- Stress, poor sleep and an uneven bite are common causes.
- Early protection saves tooth structure.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the medical name for grinding or clenching your teeth. It can happen while you sleep or during the day, often when you're concentrating or stressed. Sleep-time grinding tends to be more forceful, and it's harder to notice because it happens while you're asleep.
Signs You May Be Grinding
- You wake up with a tight or sore jaw, or a dull headache
- Your teeth look flat, short or chipped
- Your teeth feel sensitive to hot and cold, without an obvious cavity
- Your partner hears grinding or clicking at night
- You keep breaking fillings, crowns or veneers
- You can see ridges or indentations on the inside of your cheeks or the sides of your tongue
Common Causes
- Stress and anxiety
- Poor or interrupted sleep, including snoring or sleep apnoea
- An uneven bite or missing teeth
- Too much caffeine or alcohol, especially in the evening
- Some medicines
What Grinding Does to Your Teeth
Over time the biting surfaces wear flat and the teeth get shorter. Enamel thins and sensitivity increases. Cracks can form in the teeth or in old fillings and crowns, and the jaw muscles and joints can become sore. In heavy cases, teeth may need crowns or a full rehabilitation to restore them.
How a Night Guard Helps
A night guard is a thin, hard cover worn over your teeth while you sleep. It doesn't cure grinding, but it absorbs the force and stops your teeth from wearing each other down. A guard made from an impression of your own teeth fits snugly, stays in place and is far more comfortable than an off-the-shelf one. That comfort matters, because a guard you won't wear can't protect you.
Other Things That Can Help
- Winding down before bed and keeping a regular sleep routine
- Cutting back on caffeine and alcohol in the evening
- Avoiding chewing pens, nails and gum
- Consciously relaxing your jaw during the day: lips together, teeth apart
- Checking whether snoring or breathing problems are affecting your sleep
When to See a Dentist
See a dentist if you wake up with jaw pain, if your teeth look worn or chipped, or if a partner has noticed grinding. The sooner a guard is fitted, the more tooth structure you keep.
Signs of Grinding and What They May Mean
| Sign | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Flat or shortened teeth | Enamel wear from grinding |
| Sore jaw or headache in the morning | Muscle strain from clenching at night |
| Sensitive teeth without cavities | Thinning enamel |
| Repeated chips or broken restorations | Heavy bite forces |
| Ridges on the tongue or cheek | Clenching during the day or night |
If grinding has already damaged your teeth, treatment can restore them. Our veneers, crowns and full mouth rehabilitation pages explain the options.
Think you might be grinding your teeth?
Book a check-up and we'll look for signs of wear and talk about a custom night guard.
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