A sore jaw in the morning, headaches that seem to start behind your temples, teeth that look a little more worn than they used to — most people who grind their teeth at night don't know they're doing it until the effects catch up with them. Bruxism is one of the most common issues we see at check-ups, and also one of the easiest to miss until it's flagged. Here's the full picture from the team at Dental Wellness Stanmore.
A wear-and-tear guide from the team at Dental Wellness Stanmore
Q: What exactly is bruxism?
A: Bruxism simply means grinding or clenching your teeth, most commonly while asleep, though it can happen during the day for some people too, particularly during moments of concentration or stress. Because it's involuntary, most patients aren't aware they're doing it at all — it's usually picked up by us during a routine check-up, or because someone else in the house has heard it happening overnight.
Q: How would I even know if I'm doing it?
A: A jaw that feels stiff or achy when you wake up is one of the clearest signs, along with headaches that tend to centre around the temples. Teeth that look shorter or flatter than they used to, growing sensitivity to hot and cold, and small unexplained chips along the edges of teeth are all worth paying attention to as well. If a partner has mentioned grinding noises at night, that's usually the giveaway that settles it.
Bring any of this up next time you're in at Dental Wellness Stanmore — the wear pattern on your teeth usually tells us straight away whether grinding is involved.
Q: What causes it in the first place?
A: Stress is the most frequent trigger by far, and plenty of patients notice it gets worse during particularly busy or tense periods in life. Other contributing factors include a bite that's slightly out of alignment, sleep disorders like sleep apnoea, and occasionally certain medications as a side effect. Sometimes there's no single clear cause, and it's simply how someone's body processes tension while they sleep.
Q: Should I actually be worried about it, or is it harmless?
A: It's worth taking seriously rather than brushing off. Left unmanaged, grinding wears through enamel considerably faster than everyday chewing does, which can lead to sensitivity, flattened or chipped teeth, and eventually cracked teeth or fillings and crowns failing sooner than they normally would. It can also put real strain on the jaw joint, which sometimes shows up as ongoing jaw pain or a clicking sensation when you open your mouth.
Q: What's the actual solution?
A: For most patients, a custom-fitted night guard is the answer. Worn while sleeping, it creates a buffer between your upper and lower teeth, so the grinding force gets absorbed by the guard instead of wearing away your enamel. A properly fitted guard, made specifically around your bite, is a world apart from the one-size-fits-all versions from a pharmacy — both in comfort and how well it actually protects your teeth.
Where stress is clearly the driver, tackling that side too — better sleep habits, relaxation techniques, or simply lightening the load where you can — often helps reduce how frequently it happens.
Q: Does a night guard stop the grinding altogether?
A: Not exactly — it protects your teeth from the effects of it, which is usually what matters most day to day, but the underlying habit can continue. Think of it as protecting the asset rather than curing the cause. In cases where an uneven bite is playing a role, we can sometimes address that directly, which may reduce the grinding at the source rather than just managing the fallout.
Q: Is this something kids deal with too?
A: It is, and it's actually quite common in children, often tied to teething, their bite shifting as adult teeth come through, or general stress. It usually settles on its own once the permanent teeth are in, but it's still worth flagging at their appointments at Dental Wellness Stanmore so we can monitor any wear and step in if needed.
Q: At what point should I actually book to have this checked?
A: If mornings regularly bring jaw pain or headaches, if you've spotted visible wear or small chips on your teeth, or if someone's told you they can hear grinding overnight, it's worth getting looked at. Catching it early usually means less repair work down the line, and a custom night guard is a simple, comfortable way to manage it once we've confirmed what's going on.
If you think you might be grinding your teeth at night, the team at Dental Wellness Stanmore can check the wear on your teeth, talk through what might be behind it, and fit you for a custom night guard if that's the right step for you.
Book online, call us on 020 8954 2602, or pop in and speak to our reception team.
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