Have your teeth become extremely sensitive to external stimuli, especially when consuming hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks? Do you experience pain or discomfort in the front part of the ear while chewing, or pain and tension in the chewing muscles, particularly in the morning? Has your partner or a family member noticed that you grind your teeth at night while sleeping?
All of these can be symptoms of bruxism.
If you notice any of these signs or if someone close to you warns you that you grind your teeth during sleep, it is important to consult a dentist as soon as possible. Bruxism can cause serious damage to your teeth, and timely treatment is essential to prevent long-term consequences.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a psychogenic condition characterised by teeth grinding and clenching during sleep and/or while awake. The forces exerted on your teeth, gums, and jaw joints during bruxism are significantly stronger than those generated during normal chewing.
There are two main forms of bruxism related to teeth grinding:
Grinding, which involves movement of the lower jaw and can be quite loud. In such cases, family members or partners often notice that something is wrong during sleep.
Clenching, which occurs without movement of the lower jaw and is therefore silent.
Despite the lack of noise, patients frequently experience symptoms—especially in the morning—such as headaches, pain while chewing, increased tooth sensitivity, or tension in the chewing muscles.
In the past, bruxism was believed to be caused by misalignment between the upper and lower dental arches. However, more recent research shows that bruxism is primarily psychogenic, most often triggered by internal factors such as excessive stress, tension, and anxiety, which are common in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Bruxism leads to excessive tooth wear and fractures, as well as pain in the teeth, jaw, temporomandibular joints, and frequent headaches.
If left untreated, bruxism can cause significant long-term damage to the entire chewing system.
Night guards for bruxism are the most common form of treatment. These dental splints are worn at night, are comfortable to use, and allow the neuromuscular system to relax while protecting teeth and prosthetic restorations from excessive forces.
Bruxism – What Are the Symptoms?
Bruxism often occurs at night, which means patients are frequently unaware of the condition until a partner or family member notices teeth grinding during sleep. However, even without external observation, there are several physical symptoms that may indicate bruxism, including:
Increased tooth sensitivity to stimuli (hot–cold, sweet–acidic)
Pain or discomfort in the ear area while chewing
Pain and tension in the chewing muscles, especially in the morning
Why Is Bruxism Dangerous?
Bruxism can lead to serious negative consequences for the teeth and the entire chewing system. Teeth grinding causes and accelerates excessive tooth wear, which is often accompanied by changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). As a result, teeth become highly sensitive, weakened, and more prone to cracking or breaking.
If bruxism is left untreated, ongoing tooth wear can lead to a loss of proper bite alignment and changes in facial appearance. Patients may also experience jaw pain, muscle tenderness, frequent headaches, as well as neck and ear pain.
Unfortunately, many patients underestimate teeth grinding and seek dental help only once bruxism has reached an advanced stage. At that point, treatment is often more complex, time-consuming, and costly.
On the other hand, when bruxism is diagnosed early, treatment is usually simpler and shorter, as the condition has not yet caused permanent or serious damage to the teeth.
Bruxism – How Is It Treated?
During a professional dental examination, a dentist can easily recognise bruxism by observing worn enamel on the biting surfaces of the teeth, with exposed dentin (the inner layer of the tooth beneath the enamel).
In many people, bruxism is temporary and may resolve once the sources of stress are reduced or eliminated. However, bruxism can still leave significant damage to the teeth, making them weak and prone to fractures.
If bruxism is diagnosed, we strongly recommend identifying and managing stress factors, alongside appropriate dental treatment to protect the teeth and the jaw system.
Night Guards for Bruxism
Bruxism night guards help prevent teeth grinding and its harmful effects by stopping further wear and weakening of the chewing surfaces. When needed, they can also help restore proper bite height, ensure correct positioning of the jaw joints, and reduce headaches as well as neck and ear pain commonly associated with bruxism.
Night guards vary in thickness and material and are always custom-made, based on your individual bite and an impression of your upper or lower jaw. They are worn at night during sleep, are comfortable to use, and do not cause pain or discomfort.
By preventing direct tooth-to-tooth contact, night guards protect dental tissues from further damage. Patients wear them for as long as recommended by the dentist, depending on the stage of bruxism. In addition to protecting teeth, a night guard helps maintain proper tooth alignment, supports a comfortable jaw position, and can significantly improve overall quality of life.
