How grinding shows up
Bruxism is clenching or grinding, usually at night and often linked to stress. The forces involved are considerably higher than normal chewing, and they are sustained.
- Waking with a tight, aching jaw or a dull headache at the temples
- Teeth flattened or worn at the edges
- Increased sensitivity from worn enamel
- Fillings, crowns or veneers that keep chipping
- Clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint
- Difficulty opening fully, or the jaw catching
- A partner noticing the noise
TMD - the jaw joint itself
Temporomandibular dysfunction covers problems with the jaw joint and the muscles around it. It can cause pain in front of the ear, headaches, and difficulty chewing. Grinding is a common contributor but not the only one.
Diagnosis starts with an examination of the joint, the muscles and your bite, plus a look at the wear pattern on your teeth, which tends to be revealing.
Night guards
A custom night guard is a hard acrylic splint moulded to your teeth. It does not stop the grinding - that is largely neurological - but it absorbs the load, so the guard wears instead of your enamel, and it takes strain off the joint.
Fit matters here. Soft boil-and-bite guards from a pharmacy can make things worse, because a springy surface can encourage more clenching. A custom guard is made to your bite so the teeth meet evenly on it.
The rest of it
Where stress is a driver, a guard protects the teeth but does not address the cause. Simple things help: jaw exercises, heat, being conscious of daytime clenching, and adjusting caffeine and alcohol before bed. Persistent or severe joint problems may need referral, and we will say so.
