Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and so is the dental work you’ve invested in. Clenching and grinding quietly put both at risk. At Forest Springs Dentistry in Dripping Springs, we look past the night guard to what is happening in your bite and jaw, so you can protect the teeth you have.
What is clenching and grinding (bruxism)?
Clenching is pressing the teeth together hard; grinding is sliding them back and forth under that pressure. Both can happen during the day, often without noticing, or at night during sleep, when you can’t control it at all.
Stress plays a part, but it is rarely the whole story. Night-time clenching is often linked to breathing: the jaw braces forward to hold the airway open. A bite that doesn’t meet evenly, or a tongue-tie that keeps the tongue low, can add to it.
Over time that strain reaches the jaw joints and the muscles that move them. That is TMD (temporomandibular disorder): clicking, aching, or a jaw that tires when you chew. Clenching and TMD so often travel together that we evaluate and treat them together. For more on the joint itself, see jaw pain and TMJ.
Signs you may be clenching or grinding
- Worn, flat, chipped, or cracked teeth, or fillings that keep breaking
- Teeth that are newly sensitive to cold
- A sore jaw or tight face muscles when you wake up
- Morning headaches, especially at the temples
- A partner who hears you grinding at night
- Snoring, or waking up tired
Why it matters
Clenching and grinding put tremendous pressure on your teeth, and it adds up night after night. Over the years that pressure wears enamel away, cracks teeth, and breaks fillings, crowns, and other restorations. It also strains the jaw joints and feeds headaches and jaw pain.
The cost is more than discomfort. A cracked tooth or a broken crown can mean costly treatment, and a replaced restoration under the same forces can fail again. Finding the problem early protects your natural teeth and the money you’ve already put into them.
How we evaluate it
We go beyond simply recommending a nightguard. Using advanced technology, we evaluate your bite, your jaw muscles, and the forces acting on your teeth, so we understand what is really happening before we recommend anything.
How we treat it
The goal is to protect your natural teeth, preserve your existing dental work, and explore options that may prevent bigger, more expensive problems down the road. Depending on what we find, that can include:
A custom night guard or splint
Made from a digital scan of your teeth, a custom guard fits precisely, protects the enamel, and lets the muscles relax. Unlike a boil-and-bite guard, it is designed around your bite.
Bite analysis and adjustment
We measure how your teeth meet with digital bite analysis. Where a few teeth are taking too much force, adjusting them can calm the muscles that drive the clenching.
Airway screening
If sleep may be involved, a home sleep screening tracks your breathing overnight. Treating the airway can reduce the need to clench at all. See snoring and airway care.
Tongue-tie release
A tight tongue can be one source of clenching and grinding. Where it is, releasing it removes a source of muscle tension. See tongue-tie treatment.
Repairing worn teeth
Once the forces are under control, worn or chipped teeth can be rebuilt with bonding, veneers, or crowns, so the repair lasts. See smile improvement.
Why clenching, grinding, and TMD care is different at Forest Springs Dentistry
More than a nightguard
Many offices stop at a night guard. We use one to protect your teeth while we evaluate your bite, jaw muscles, and the forces behind the damage, because understanding the cause is what protects them for the long run.
We check your breathing
Dr. Reddy looks at the airway in every exam. When clenching is the body’s way of keeping the airway open, treating the airway treats the clenching.
Your bite, measured precisely
Instead of guessing with marking paper alone, we use T-Scan digital bite analysis to see exactly where and how hard your teeth meet, and in what order. Adjustments are based on measurements, not feel.
Advanced training in the jaw and airway
Dr. Reddy has taken extensive continuing education on the jaw joint and breathing through The Breathe Institute, Spencer Study Club, VIVOS, and Spear. That training is the foundation of how we look at headaches, clenching, and jaw pain.
Frequently asked questions about clenching and grinding
Is grinding my teeth at night serious?
It can be. Occasional grinding may do little harm, but regular clenching wears and cracks teeth, strains the jaw, and can signal a breathing problem during sleep. It’s worth an exam.
Will a store-bought night guard work?
It can protect the teeth for a short time, but it fits loosely, wears through quickly, and does nothing about why you’re grinding. A custom guard is made from a scan of your teeth and fitted to your bite.
Can children grind their teeth?
Yes, and it’s common. In children it can be linked to mouth breathing or a narrow airway, which is worth checking early. We see children from age 4.
Can clenching cause headaches?
Yes. The muscles that clench the jaw run up into the temples, and overworked muscles there are a common source of tension headaches. See headache relief.
Can worn teeth be repaired?
Usually, with bonding, veneers, or crowns. We get the clenching under control first so the repair isn’t worn down the same way.
Clenching, grinding, and TMD treatment in Dripping Springs
Protect your natural teeth and the dental work you’ve invested in.