Night Guards for Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Signs You Need One and How They Protect Your Smile

It’s often very hard to diagnose, as most people aren’t even aware they are doing it. Your partner might notice the sound of your teeth clicking and grinding together, but they might also sleep through this noise.

It’s often your dentist who notices the signs of bruxism, as they will be able to see the impact on your teeth. It can lead to premature wearing down of the tooth surface, which could leave the cusps of your teeth weak and prone to cracks.

Left untreated, this can have long-term implications for your oral health. It can also impact your jaw health and might contribute to jaw pain and headaches.

In this guide, we’re looking at the common signs you might suffer from bruxism and how you can protect your teeth from damage.

What causes bruxism?

There isn’t a single cause of bruxism, but there are a few theories about why this condition might happen. It’s commonly linked to stress, with individuals clenching their jaws at night due to elevated stress levels.

It could also be linked to alcohol and caffeine use, or to sleep conditions like sleep apnea. Recreational drug use is also linked to jaw grinding. Certain medical conditions like Parkinson’s and dementia are also linked to bruxism.

Common signs of bruxism

If you’re curious to know if you have bruxism, look out for the following signs:

- When you wake up in the morning, do your teeth or jaw ache without explanation?

- Does your jaw hurt throughout the day?

- Do you get unexplained headaches that typically start at the temples?

- Are your teeth becoming more sensitive to hot and cold than usual?

- Do you regularly experience chips or cracks on your teeth?

- Is the top chewing surface of your teeth becoming flatter?

If you aren’t able to confirm that you grind your teeth at night, it might be time to visit the dentist to confirm. They will often be able to see evidence of teeth grinding in the damage to the chewing surface. You might also have thin enamel or uneven edges.

How does a night guard help?

A night guard won’t stop you from grinding your teeth, but it can help to protect your teeth while you figure out further treatment. The night guard is like a gum shield you might wear during sports.

It’s safe to wear at night and is designed to fit your teeth perfectly. It will fit on your upper jaw and you’ll be able to close your mouth normally.

It provides a buffer between your upper and lower teeth, so they don’t press together when you grind your teeth. Your jaw is capable of biting down with force of up to 125kg, which is a lot for your teeth to handle.

Your jaw might still hurt, but you won’t be able to damage your teeth during this time. Alongside the night guard, it’s a good idea to explore some options for treating your bruxism.

How else is bruxism treated?

Lifestyle changes are often at the top of the list for treating bruxism. This could mean reducing stress in your life, or changing the way that it impacts you. For some people, this could mean increasing gentle exercise, yoga, or meditation practice.

You can also look at changing habits, such as quitting smoking, reducing or cutting out caffeine and quitting drinking. You should also stop using recreational drugs.

A lesser known treatment for bruxism is Botox. No, we don’t use this for wrinkles, but we can use it to relax the muscles in the jaw so they don’t become overactive at night time. This, combined with a night guard, can help to tackle the symptoms of bruxism while you get to the bottom of the root cause.

Bruxism doesn’t have to damage your teeth any further. Once you have identified this common problem, there are steps you can take to tackle it and avoid extensive damage to your teeth and your oral health.