Bruxism is the involuntary clenching, grinding of the teeth. Usually, a person doesn’t realise that they grind their teeth in their sleep. For example, some people grind their teeth when they are angry, concentrating or feeling anxious.

Some common signs and symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Grinding sounds while the person is asleep
• Clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating
• Headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain
• Aching teeth, stiffness of the face and/or jaws
• Sensitive teeth
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Loose teeth

If you think you grind your teeth, speak with one of our caring dentists. They will assess your current dental condition and discuss the possible treatment options for you, which may include:

• A custom made occlusal splint (special grinding mouthguard) to wear at night so that the guard is worn down instead of your teeth. In most cases, a bite splint will only help with the symptoms and will not prevent you from grinding
• Repair any damaged teeth