Grinding Your Teeth at Night? We Have Solutions

Unconscious nighttime teeth grinding — also known as  sleep bruxism — is a common issue among people of all ages, including children and adolescents. In most cases, spontaneous jaw clenching during sleep is an adverse side effect of chronic stress or anxiety. 

Factors that can make the problem worse include:  

• Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Excessive caffeine, alcohol use, or smoking
• Long-term antidepressant medication use 

As a general dentist who offers a full scope of preventive care services at Burbank Dental Studio in Burbank, California, Dr. Annie Aboulian knows that when you’ve been diagnosed with sleep bruxism, prompt treatment is the best way to safeguard your oral health. 

Here, Dr. Annie discusses the warning signs of this common problem, and explains how our treatment solutions can help you overcome it and avoid complications. 

Warning signs of sleep bruxism 

Unlike those affected by awake bruxism, or daytime jaw clenching and teeth grinding, most people who grind their teeth while they’re asleep are completely unaware of the problem — until their dentist spots its warning signs during a routine dental cleaning and exam. 

What we may see in an exam

Sleep bruxism is very hard on your teeth; in fact, nighttime grinding can place up to 250 pounds of excessive force on your teeth and jaws, causing abnormal tension and stress. 

Dr. Annie sees the adverse effects of this stress in your oral tissues. During a dental exam, she may notice worn chew surfaces, eroded enamel, and chipped, cracked, or loose teeth. 

Symptoms you might notice

Initially, many people dismiss the early signs of sleep bruxism, such as periodically waking up with jaw, ear, or facial pain. That pain gradually eases as the day goes on. When the problem persists, however, it can cause other symptoms that are harder to ignore, such as:  

• Chronic morning headaches 
• Recurrent nighttime waking
• Oral pain that wakes you up
• Abnormally sensitive enamel
• Stiff, achy, or tender jaw joints 
• Jaw joint clicking or popping

 If she notices visible signs of wear associated with nighttime grinding during an exam, Dr. Annie asks if you’ve been experiencing any of these problems. A proper diagnosis is the first step toward the treatment you need to protect your oral health. 

Why it’s important to treat bruxism

Left untreated, sleep bruxism can lead to significant oral health concerns like jaw or bite misalignment, tooth damage, and tooth loss. Untreated nighttime grinding is also a common starting point for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction. 

Eventually, untreated sleep bruxism can lead to a full-blown TMJ disorder (TMD) that limits jaw movement and causes chronic jaw, neck, ear, and head pain. 

Top solutions for nighttime grinding

Be assured that sleep bruxism is highly responsive to treatment, and we have effective solutions that you can begin implementing right away. While the severity of your case guides your treatment needs, most people benefit from some combination of the following:

Mouthguard wear

The fastest way to ease the effects of nighttime grinding is by wearing a mouthguard when you sleep. Made just for you, this prescription oral appliance prevents contact between your upper and lower teeth and gently repositions your jaw to minimize TMJ muscle strain.     

Stress reduction 

Finding ways to decrease stressors and cope more effectively with those that remain can go a long way toward easing nighttime grinding. 

Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, connecting with others, practicing self-care, establishing boundaries, and spending time outdoors are just a few of the many stress reduction techniques you can try.      

Lifestyle changes

If caffeine or alcohol consumption are contributing factors in your bruxism, limit your daily intake of both. Quitting smoking can also ease nighttime grinding and help you get a better night’s sleep.   

Medication use

If you have very tight jaw muscles, Dr. Annie may recommend taking prescription muscle relaxants before bedtime — but only as a temporary measure.   

Botox® injections 

For nighttime grinding that involves severe or long-standing jaw tension, a few well-placed Botox injections can provide near-immediate relief that lasts. As a neurotoxin, Botox blocks the expression of the sensory pathways that help sustain tension-driven jaw clenching and teeth grinding.  

Within 24 hours of receiving Botox injections for bruxism, the targeted jaw muscles begin to lose tension and constriction. As your jaw muscles relax back to normal tension levels, you can expect your nighttime grinding to significantly diminish — for up to four months.   

Ready to say goodbye to bruxism?  

Are you ready to resolve nighttime grinding? Dr. Annie and our team at Burbank Dental Studio in Burbank, California, can help. Give us a call today, or use our easy online booking feature to request an appointment anytime.