Bruxism (teeth grinding)

Bruxism is a condition where a person grinds, clenches or gnashes the teeth. It can occur when awake or asleep. It often happens without you noticing.

Over time, grinding can wear down enamel, chip or crack teeth and strain the jaw joints. See tooth wear and TMJ disorder.

A dentist can look for wear patterns. One common option is a custom night guard, which sits between the teeth to protect them. Our office describes this on its night guards page.