TEETH GRINDING

Causes OF Teeth Grinding

It’s not always clear what causes teeth grinding, but common factors include:

Stress and anxiety
Sleep problems, including snoring and sleep apnoea
Certain medicines, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression
Smoking
Drinking lots of alcohol or caffeine
Recreational drug use

Ways to treat teeth grinding

The two main ways used to treat teeth grinding are mouth guards and mouth splints, which each perform different functions:

Mouth guards are worn at night and help to protect your jaw and teeth while you sleep. They work by putting a barrier between your upper and lower jaws, so that you only grind the plates of the guard, rather than the enamel of your teeth. They are created using high-quality materials and are moulded to fit your mouth comfortably.

Mouth splints are also worn at night, but they are made of harder, thicker materials which helps to separate the upper and lower teeth enough to relax the jaw muscles, as well as protecting teeth from grinding.

When you come in for a consultation, we’ll examine your teeth to see the level of tooth wear, and whether this has definitely been caused by teeth grinding or a combination of factors. Other causes include consuming acidic, fizzy and sugary drinks, along with brushing too hard. We’ll also examine your jaw joints and muscles and ask you about any headaches you might be suffering from.

Once we’ve established that the issue is teeth grinding, we’ll talk you through your options and discuss the right type of guard or splint for you. We’ll then take a detailed mould of your teeth and send it to our dental lab technician to create a tailor-made guard or splint.