How Do You Know if You’re Grinding Teeth at Night?

If you’re so concerned about the possibility that you’re grinding teeth at night, it’s likely woken up your spouse a time or two and you may have even found yourself awoken in the night by the clenching or the sound of rubbing your teeth together. This pesky habit is known as “bruxism”, and, if left uncared for, can become a big issue with consequences that affect the whole body. So, how do you know if you’re grinding teeth at night (besides the not-so-gentle nudge from your loved one telling you to “quiet down over there!”)?

• Worn teeth, shortened teeth, tooth fractures, sensitivity, tooth loosening
• Headaches
• Earache
• Jaw ache
• Pain in the muscles of the face
• Gum problems, such as receding and inflammation
• Problems with the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
• Shoulder stiffness or tightness
• Problems opening the mouth

Grind Your Teeth Grinding to a Halt!

There are actually many possible reasons why you are grinding teeth at night, including stress/anxiety, smoking, heavy alcohol or caffeine usage, depression, and other sleep disorders. But how can you stop it? Of course, knowing your specific cause will help, but, in general, there are a few things you can do to grind your teeth grinding to a halt!

Visit Your Dentist

Make sure your bruxism isn’t causing irreversible damage to your teeth. If you feel that your teeth have already suffered from grinding, we will assess the situation and perform a reconstruction to the damaged tooth/teeth. can cause tooth damage, it’s a good idea to get regular check-ups if you suffer from it. Sometimes a simple recontouring will be enough to adjust the edges back to “normal”. If your teeth are so worn down that they’ve chipped or your natural smile shape has been altered, we can look at custom-colored crowns or veneers as a solution. Of course, if you’re considering cosmetic treatment to restore your smile, you’ll want to protect it moving forward!

See below…

Invest in a Night Guard

There are a number of night guard options out there for you to buy on your own, however, we strongly recommend a custom-fit nightguard to ensure optimum protection against grinding and prevention of TMJ/TMD. At Modern Touch Dental, we will start the process by making an exact mold of your mouth. Our trusted lab partner then fabricates a soft or hard for your teeth guard depending on your needs. If you’re turned off by the idea of the big, uncomfortable sports mouthguards you may have worn in your youth, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that today’s dental guards are nothing of the sort. They are slim, plastic appliances designed especially for you to fit comfortably in YOUR mouth…

Hard (severe grinders)

Soft (for sleeping/light/moderate grinders)

See Your General Family Physician

You may already know that teeth grinding is a common symptom of breathing and sleep disorders. If you’ve never been checked for a breathing or sleep disorder, you should consult your general family physician for testing. Once treated, many people find that their teeth grinding subsides.

Psychological Help And/or Self-Help Through Relaxation Techniques

If you or your physician determines that your teeth grinding is being caused by stress or another psychological issue, cognitive behavioral therapy or self-relaxation techniques may be a solution for you.