How to Tell if You Grind Your Teeth at Night

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Most bad habits we’re aware of. If you smoke, never floss, or drink a lot of pop, you know you’re doing it and can get the help you need to keep your teeth healthy. 

However, if you grind your teeth at night, also known as sleep bruxism, it can go unnoticed for a long time. So, the damage you’re doing to your teeth will go unchecked.

A closer look at bruxism (grinding your teeth)

Bruxism comes in two different types – sleep or awake. Whether you tend to grind your teeth during the day or when you’re sleeping, most cases are mild enough that it shouldn’t harm your teeth. 

However, more severe cases may lead to:

  • Worn down or damaged teeth, crowns or fillings

  • Damage to your jaw

  • Pain in your jaw or into your ears

  • Issues in the jaw joints right in front of the ear that may cause clicks when you open and close your mouth.

Because of the damage extreme sleep bruxism can cause, often without you even knowing it’s happening, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. This will help you self-diagnose.

The signs and symptoms of bruxism

Unchecked bruxism can cause a variety of difficulties in your mouth, jaw and facial area. If you have any of the below signs and symptoms, let your dentist know so they can check your teeth.

The most obvious sign you have sleep bruxism is if you wake your partner up with grinding or clenching. However, more subtle signs can include:

  • Pain in your teeth, jaw, or ears

  • Increased tooth sensitivity

  • Recurring headaches starting in your temple

  • Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek

  • Worn tooth enamel

  • Flattened, fractured, chipped or loose teeth

  • Sleep disruption

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to let your dentist and doctor know.

Getting help

There are a variety of ways a doctor can help you deal with your bruxism, including some types of medication which will help your jaw relax during sleep. However, if you’ve already done damage to your teeth, it’s important to let your dentist know so they can help restore and protect your smile.

Your dentist can help you with:

  • A high-quality mouthguard. Constructed of hard acrylic or soft materials, a mouthguard fits over your upper and lower teeth to keep them from grinding against each other and protect the enamel.

  • Dental correction. If extreme bruxism is not caught early enough, it can cause significant damage to your tooth enamel. To combat any bite discomfort, sensitivity, or other pain, your dentist may need to place crowns or reshape chewing surfaces.

If you believe you engage in tooth grinding or sleep bruxism at night, let us know so we can help you protect your smile.

Joel Harding