Many people clench or grind their teeth, often without even realising it. This is known as bruxism. It usually happens at night during sleep, but some may notice it in the daytime, especially in stressful situations.

Signs and Symptoms

• Headaches or jaw pain in the morning.
• Worn, chipped, or flattened teeth.
• Sensitive teeth due to enamel wear.
• Clicking or tightness in the jaw joint.
• Disturbed sleep (for you or your partner).

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

• Stress and anxiety.
• Abnormal bite or crooked teeth.
• Sleep issues, like sleep apnoea.
• Lifestyle habits such as caffeine and alcohol.

Procedure Steps for Treatment

1. Consultation and diagnosis with a dental examination.
2. Assessment of teeth wear and bite alignment.
3. Custom night guard (dental splint) is made to protect teeth.
4. Advice on stress management, relaxation, and jaw exercises.
5. In some cases, further treatment like orthodontics or Botox may be suggested.

Duration of Treatment

• Night guards are ready in 1–2 weeks after impressions.
• Wearing the guard nightly provides immediate protection.
• Long‑term review helps track improvement.

Benefits of Treatment

• Protects teeth from cracks, wear, and sensitivity.
• Relieves jaw pain, tension, and headaches.
• Improves sleep and reduces morning discomfort.
• Prevents future dental treatments caused by grinding damage.

Types of Treatments

• Soft night guards – Comfortable and flexible, good for mild grinding.
• Hard acrylic night guards – Strong and durable, better for severe cases.
• Orthodontic adjustments – To correct bite issues.
• Stress relief therapies – Breathing exercises, lifestyle changes, or counselling.

Cost Factors

• Complexity of the grinding problem.
• Type of night guard material chosen.
• Additional treatments needed (crowns, orthodontics, Botox).

Ideal Patients

• People with frequent headaches or jaw pain.
• Patients with worn, chipped, or sensitive teeth.
• Anyone experiencing broken dental restorations caused by grinding.
• Both children and adults can suffer from bruxism.

Possible Side Effects (if untreated)

• Cracking or breaking of teeth.
• Repeated fillings or crowns wearing down.
• TMJ (jaw joint) pain and dysfunction.
• Long‑term damage to smile aesthetics.

Patient Reviews

At York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet, Surrey, patients often express relief when their custom night guard immediately improved sleep quality and jaw comfort. One patient even said their morning headaches disappeared within the first week.

Real-World Example

A patient who had been breaking fillings due to unconscious grinding was fitted with a hard acrylic night guard. Within months, their teeth stopped wearing down, and no further damage occurred.