What is night-time teeth grinding?
Night-time teeth grinding is bruxism that happens while you sleep. Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of teeth that is not part of normal chewing (healthdirect; teeth.org.au). Better Health Channel describes it as involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing that usually happens during sleep (Better Health Channel).
You may have no conscious control over grinding during sleep, and you might not know you do it unless someone else hears the noise or you notice morning symptoms (teeth.org.au). Not everyone who grinds needs treatment (healthdirect).
This page is general information only. It is not a personal diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not diagnose sleep disorders or jaw-joint conditions, and it does not prescribe medicines.
What signs do people notice?
Common signs include morning jaw ache, headaches, tooth sensitivity, and worn, cracked or chipped teeth. Healthdirect lists cracked, chipped or loose teeth, damaged fillings, painful jaw muscles (especially in the morning), headaches, sensitive teeth and sleep disturbance among possible symptoms (healthdirect). Better Health Channel adds face and temple stiffness on waking and raised tissue on the inside of the cheek from biting (Better Health Channel).
A bed partner or parent is often the first to hear grinding at night (Better Health Channel). Some people have few or no symptoms (healthdirect).
Signs people often notice include:
- Morning jaw, face or temple ache or stiffness
- Headaches on waking
- Teeth that feel sensitive to hot, cold or sweetness
- Worn, flattened, cracked or chipped teeth, or broken fillings
- A partner who hears grinding during the night
Tooth sensitivity can have several causes. See teeth sensitivity: common causes if that is your main concern.
Why can grinding bother teeth and jaws?
Repeated grinding and clenching can wear tooth enamel and put strain on the muscles and joints that move the jaw. The Australian Dental Association explains that bruxism can cause teeth to wear and may damage the teeth and jaw joints (teeth.org.au). Better Health Channel lists more wear than usual, cracked or broken teeth or restorations, sore jaw muscles, and strain on the jaw joint among problems linked to grinding (Better Health Channel).
How much damage occurs varies. Mild grinding may cause little harm; heavier or long-running grinding can wear teeth, crack fillings or leave the jaw muscles sore (healthdirect). Only a dental examination can assess your own teeth and bite. This article does not diagnose jaw-joint disorders.
What home habits can help?
Day-to-day habits will not stop sleep grinding on their own, but they can reduce extra stress on your teeth while you arrange a check. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and clean between your teeth. A soft brush suits enamel and gums better than a hard brush when teeth already feel worn or sensitive — see soft vs hard toothbrush.
Ease up on chewing ice, pens, fingernails or other hard non-food items. Those habits add load to teeth that may already be under pressure from night grinding.
Healthdirect and Better Health Channel link stress, alcohol, smoking and caffeine with grinding for some people, and discuss relaxation and sleep habits as part of wider management (healthdirect; Better Health Channel). Home changes support your teeth; they do not replace a dental visit.
What might a dentist discuss about a night guard?
For ongoing grinding that causes discomfort or tooth damage, a dentist may discuss a custom occlusal splint, also called a night guard or bite splint. The ADA describes it as hard plastic fitted over the upper or lower teeth, custom-made for you, and different from a sports mouthguard. It protects teeth from wear and damage and can reduce strain on muscles and jaw joints, but it does not stop grinding (teeth.org.au). Better Health Channel notes that a bite splint usually helps with symptoms rather than stopping grinding (Better Health Channel).
Not everyone who grinds needs a night guard (teeth.org.au). Your dentist at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake can examine wear patterns, discuss benefits and limits, and outline options that fit your mouth. There is no hard sell and no price on this page — ask for an itemised estimate if a splint is recommended.
Night guards for grinding sit within everyday general dentistry and routine check-ups and cleans at AMK. Sports mouthguards are a separate product for contact sport; see sports mouthguards: custom vs boil-and-bite if that is what you need.
When should you book?
Book a dental visit if grinding is linked to pain, cracked or chipped teeth, lasting jaw soreness, or sensitivity that worries you. Healthdirect advises talking to your dentist or doctor if you have symptoms of teeth grinding (healthdirect). The ADA likewise encourages you to see a dentist if you have signs or symptoms (teeth.org.au).
Worth booking sooner when you notice:
- Lasting jaw or face soreness, especially on waking
- Concern about cracked, chipped, loose or heavily worn teeth
- Broken fillings or new tooth sensitivity you link to grinding
- Headaches that regularly appear with morning jaw ache
If you have been away from the dentist for a while, coming back after a long gap explains what a return visit usually involves. A dentist may suggest you talk with your GP about sleep if that comes up — a referral conversation, not a diagnosis here (teeth.org.au).
How do you get help at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake?
AMK Dental Clinic is at Shop 3, 46 Tennyson Road, Mortlake NSW 2137, near Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Concord, Rhodes and North Strathfield. Call (02) 9739 6525, contact us, or see how to book an appointment. Opening hours are listed on the Contact page.
Bring notes about morning symptoms, what a partner has heard at night, and whether you already wear a night guard. Your dentist will examine your teeth and discuss what suits you. Needs vary between people.
This page is general information only. It is not a personal diagnosis or treatment plan.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Please speak with a dentist about your needs.
Common questions
What is night-time teeth grinding?
Night-time teeth grinding is bruxism that happens during sleep — grinding or clenching that is not part of normal chewing. Healthdirect and Better Health Channel note that many people do not realise they grind until a partner hears the noise or they wake with a sore jaw. At AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake, your dentist can look for wear and discuss next steps. This page is general information only.
Does a night guard stop grinding?
No. The Australian Dental Association explains that an occlusal splint (night guard) protects teeth from wear and damage and can reduce some muscle and jaw-joint strain, but it does not stop grinding itself. Better Health Channel likewise notes that a bite splint usually helps with symptoms rather than stopping grinding. Your dentist at AMK Dental Clinic can discuss whether a splint suits you.
When should I book about grinding?
Book if you have lasting jaw soreness, headaches on waking, tooth sensitivity you link to grinding, or concern about cracked, chipped or worn teeth. Healthdirect advises seeing a dentist or doctor if you have symptoms of teeth grinding. At AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake, call (02) 9739 6525 or use the contact page. This page does not diagnose sleep or jaw-joint disorders.
What can I do at home while I wait to see a dentist?
Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and ease up on chewing ice, pens or other hard non-food items that add stress to teeth. Healthdirect and the ADA also discuss stress, caffeine, alcohol and smoking as factors that can relate to grinding. Home habits do not replace a dental check. Ask the team at AMK Dental Clinic what fits your mouth.