Teeth grinding and clenching: how a custom-fitted protection splint helps

Many people grind or clench their teeth without ever realising it. It often happens during sleep, or quietly throughout the day during moments of stress or concentration. Because you cannot feel it happening, the first signs are usually the ones a dentist notices: worn, flattened or chipped teeth, increased sensitivity, or a jaw that aches in the morning.

The medical term for this is bruxism, and while it is very common, it is worth taking seriously. Left unchecked, grinding and clenching can wear down your teeth and place ongoing strain on your jaw joint. The good news is that it is straightforward to manage once it is identified, and a custom-fitted protection splint is one of the most effective ways to protect your teeth.

What is teeth grinding and clenching?

Bruxism is the unconscious grinding or clenching of your teeth, either while you are awake or, most commonly, during sleep. It is a movement of the jaw that happens outside of normal chewing function, and because it is involuntary, most people are unaware they are doing it until a partner hears it at night or a dentist spots the wear.

There is rarely a single cause. Grinding and clenching can be associated with stress and anxiety, the way the teeth fit together, jaw joint problems, and — importantly — sleep-related breathing problems such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. We will come back to that link, because it matters more than most people realise.

Why grinding and clenching is worth taking seriously

Your tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it is not designed to withstand the repeated force of grinding night after night. Over time, prolonged bruxism can:

• Wear down enamel, exposing the softer, more sensitive layers of tooth underneath
• Flatten, chip or fracture teeth
• Increase tooth sensitivity to hot, cold and sweet
• In more advanced cases, cause enough damage that crowns, root canals, implants or even dentures are needed to repair or replace teeth

There is also the jaw joint to think about. Your jaw joint, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), works much like your knees and hips — it needs to track smoothly to stay healthy. When it is loaded heavily by constant clenching, or when it is not tracking properly, it can become susceptible to early wear and degeneration, just as other joints in the body are. Protecting your teeth and taking pressure off the jaw joint go hand in hand.

Could you be grinding or clenching? A quick self-check

Run through the checklist below. If you tick any of these boxes, it is worth mentioning to our team — a custom-fitted protection splint may benefit you.

• Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake your sleep partner
• Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
• Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of the tooth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Jaw pain and muscle tightness
• Earache, caused by strong jaw muscle contractions
• Headache, particularly on waking
• Chronic facial pain
• A clicking or clunky jaw

This is a guide, not a diagnosis. The most reliable way to know whether grinding is affecting you is for us to take a look during a routine check-up, where we can assess tooth wear and jaw function directly.

Download the printable grinding self-assessment checklist

How we protect your teeth and jaw

If we find signs of grinding or clenching, we usually take a three-part approach. The aim is both to protect your teeth from further wear and to look after the jaw joint behind them.

1. A custom-fitted protection splint. A protection splint, sometimes called a night guard, is a slim, custom-made guard worn over your teeth, usually at night. It works as a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth, absorbing the force of grinding so it acts on the splint rather than wearing down your teeth. It also helps take pressure off the jaw joint and ease muscle tension.

A custom splint is very different to a boil-and-bite guard from the chemist. At Grange Road Dental we take a comfortable digital scan of your teeth with our Trios intraoral scanner — no messy moulds — and your splint is then 3D-printed on-site or crafted by a specialist dental lab. The result is a precise, snug fit that lets you talk, yawn and drink water naturally, so you are far more likely to actually wear it. Your scan is kept on file, so if you ever lose or break it, a replacement is easy to arrange. Custom protection splints are also typically claimable on private health insurance under item #965 — we are happy to help you check your cover. You can read more on our splints and night guards page.

2. Jaw exercises. Simple physiotherapist-recommended exercises can ease muscle tightness and encourage your jaw to return to its natural resting position — where the teeth sit slightly apart and only touch when you chew. We have put together an easy at-home routine in our guide to simple jaw exercises.

3. Physiotherapy assessment and monitoring. Because the jaw joint behaves like other joints in the body, having it assessed and monitored — including by a physiotherapist where appropriate — helps make sure it is tracking properly and catches any problems early. We can guide you on whether this is worthwhile in your case.

An important link: grinding, snoring and sleep apnoea

Here is something many people do not know. Teeth grinding is very often linked to snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea — a condition where the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. In some people, grinding appears to be the body's response to a disrupted airway. For that reason, anyone who grinds their teeth should also be screened for snoring and sleep apnoea.

This matters because it changes the best treatment. If there is no snoring or sleep apnoea, a custom-fitted protection splint is exactly the right choice. But if sleep apnoea is part of the picture, a different type of device — a mandibular advancement splint — may be a better option, and treating the underlying sleep problem has benefits well beyond your teeth. We explain all of this in our companion article on snoring, sleep apnoea and teeth grinding.

When to talk to us

If you have noticed worn or sensitive teeth, a sore or tight jaw, frequent headaches or earaches, or a clicking jaw — or if a partner has mentioned your grinding at night — it is worth having it checked. The earlier grinding is identified, the easier it is to protect your teeth and your jaw from lasting damage.

Our team is always happy to talk it through. Call us on (07) 3281 6666 or book an appointment online, and we can assess your teeth and jaw and recommend the right approach for you.