Teeth grinding: what to do
Quick answer
How do I stop grinding my teeth at night?
You cannot always stop night-time grinding by willpower, but you can protect your teeth.
A custom night guard from York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet (from £295) takes the force off the teeth while you sleep. Where jaw joint pain or headaches are the main problem, a Michigan splint (£625) may be recommended. Reducing stress, caffeine and alcohol in the evening also helps many people.
What you need to know
Signs of grinding (bruxism) include waking with a sore jaw or headache, flattened or chipped teeth, sensitivity, cracked fillings, and a partner hearing you grind. Many people only find out when the dentist spots the wear pattern at a check-up.
Shop-bought boil-and-bite guards are bulky and can shift the bite if worn long term. A dentist-made guard is thinner, fitted to your teeth from a scan or impression, and checked so it does not alter how your teeth meet.
Protecting teeth early is far cheaper than repairing them later — grinding is a common reason crowns, veneers and bonding fail. Ask at your check-up. If you already have cosmetic work, see how long veneers last.
Last reviewed: by Dr Kaveet Patel, Principal Dentist
