Jaw & bite
What causes teeth grinding, and how is it treated?
Grinding is often stress showing up in your sleep, sometimes with a sleep issue. It wears, cracks and loosens teeth. A custom nightguard is the mainstay, alongside easing stress and cutting caffeine. Spot flat teeth? Come in.
Why we grind — often without knowing it
More often than not it is stress and worry showing up while you sleep, sometimes hand in hand with a sleep issue like apnoea. Smoking, alcohol, a heavy caffeine habit and certain medicines all tilt the odds further.
The tricky part is that most people are fast asleep and never realise they are doing it. The first hints usually come from elsewhere — a partner hearing it, a jaw that aches in the morning, headaches, or teeth that are quietly turning flat.
How we treat and protect against it
The mainstay is a custom nightguard — a slim, made-for-you shield that cushions your teeth and settles the jaw into a kinder position while you sleep. Alongside it, easing stress and trimming back caffeine, alcohol and smoking all take pressure off. In stubborn cases, muscle relaxants or Botox might come into the conversation.
It matters because, left alone, grinding wears teeth flat, cracks or loosens them, and strains the jaw joint into aches and headaches. If you are spotting flattened teeth or waking with a sore jaw, come in and let's protect them before the wear sets in.
Common questions
How do I know if I grind my teeth in my sleep?
The clues are usually a sore or tired jaw in the morning, headaches, increased sensitivity, or teeth looking flattened. A partner may hear it. We can also spot the wear at a check-up.
Will a shop-bought guard do the job?
A boil-and-bite guard is a fair stopgap, but a custom nightguard fits snugly and comfortably, so it protects better and actually gets worn night after night.