Splint for Teeth Grinding - Can it Help?

Teeth grinding or Bruxism can occur in both adults and children. 

If you grind your teeth during the day, then you will likely be aware of it. However, for many, bruxism happens at night while sleeping and can be difficult to recognise or diagnose unless someone else brings it to your attention. 

When left untreated, bruxism can lead to cracked, chipped, and worn-down teeth. In addition to the direct impact on your teeth, night time teeth grinding can cause painful and unexplained jaw tightness, facial muscle pain, headaches and sleep disturbance. 

If you grind your teeth at night, a custom-fitted  splint (similar to a mouth guard) can help. In this article, we’ll look at how splints work, who is a good candidate, and other factors to consider when deciding whether a splint can help. 

Symptoms of teeth grinding

If you sleep alone, the symptoms of sleep bruxism may not be as obvious as your partner telling you to “cut out the teeth grinding” in the middle of the night. If you fall into this category, some of the other symptoms that you can look out for, include:

Headaches – unexplained headaches in the morning can often be a sign of nighttime teeth grinding, which can cause stress or tension headaches in the morning.

Chipped teeth – unexplained chips to your teeth may be the result of repeated night-time teeth grinding. 

Worn-down teeth – repeated grinding can wear down the enamel on our teeth and reduce their physical size and length over time. 

Jaw pain – unexplained jaw pain, particularly after waking up, is one of the most common symptoms of nighttime teeth grinding. Ongoing clenching can lead to significant discomfort that often lingers throughout the day.

Headaches – muscle tension and pain from grinding in your sleep can often result in headaches which can linger for hours after waking. 

Sensitive teeth – unexplained changes to tooth sensitivity may be a sign of nighttime bruxism. Over time, grinding wears away the enamel and exposes the underlying dentin, leading to increased sensitivity.

What causes teeth grinding?

Before we consider a solution, it’s essential to understand what causes teeth grinding (bruxism) at night. Whilst everyone is different, the most common causes of teeth grinding at night include:

• Misaligned teeth or bite

• Stress or anxiety

• Sleep disorders, including snoring and sleep apnoea

• Certain types of medicines 

• Smoking and alcohol consumption

Treating teeth grinding

There are two main types of bruxism – awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. 

Awake Bruxism

Awake bruxism is much easier to recognise and treat. Treating and recognising triggers such as anxiety and stress can go a long way to stopping awake bruxism in its tracks. 

Sleep Bruxism

Sleep bruxism, on the other hand, often goes unnoticed and can be harder to diagnose, as it occurs unconsciously during sleep. Recognising potential triggers such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and other medicines is the first step in addressing sleep bruxism in its tracks. Whilst lifestyle changes are an important part of the equation, a custom-fitted splint can provide an effective and immediate treatment option to stop nighttime teeth grinding. 

How does a splint work?

A splint creates a physical barrier between the top and bottom teeth. By preventing contact between teeth, a splint helps to reduce the pressure generated by clenching and grinding. This, in turn, eases the strain on the jaw and helps to alleviate indirect issues that can arise from nighttime bruxism, such as jaw pain and headaches. 

Custom vs. off-the-shelf splint

Custom vs. off-the-shelf splint – which is right for you?

Much like sports mouthguards, there are several off-the-shelf splints available to treat nighttime bruxism. However, similar to sports mouthguards, an off-the-shelf splint will never provide the same level of comfort or protection as its custom-made counterparts. 

Custom splints are the best option for treating nighttime teeth grinding. A custom splint is tailored to fit your bite and the shape and size of your teeth, ensuring that it stays in place while you sleep. A well-fitted nighttime splint also helps reduce discomfort and allows you to breathe easily, minimising the risk of slipping or becoming a choking hazard during the night.

 Final thoughts

A custom-made splint is a cost-effective, proven way to stop sleep bruxism. In addition to alleviating the issues caused by nighttime teeth grinding, a splint can help reduce costly dental bills that can arise from continued grinding. Protecting your teeth and easing pressure on your jaw muscles, a custom-fitted splint supports better sleep and long-term oral health.