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Important COVID-19 UpdateMore Info

Dear Valued Aardent Dental Centre Patient, It seems that all we hear and talk about these days is COVID-19(Coronavirus). Nevertheless, we want to reassure you that we are taking extra measures in addition to our usual stringent hygiene practices. The health of our patients, staff and anyone who enters the building is of paramount importance to us. We are taking a multitude of precautions as recommended by the appropriate health authorities (and some of our own). These include,

  • Spacing of waiting room chairs by a minimum of 1.5meters.
  • Removal of magazines, newspapers and children’s toys from the waiting room.
  • Offering patients to wait in their cars if they prefer.
  • Insisting that all people who enter the building use hand sanitiser (provided).
  • Asking all people to practice high levels of cough/sneezing hygiene.
  • Requesting that anyone with a temperature/flu like symptoms contact us and postpone their dental appointment.
  • Regularly sanitising building surfaces like doorknobs etc.
  • Requiring patients for some procedures to rinse with 1% hydrogen peroxide solution (known to kill coronavirus in the mouth).
  • Availability of non-contact body temperature devices for patient screening if the situation escalates.

Please rest assured that we are open for business and able to continue our excellent level of treatment for you.

As you will be aware the situation is ever changing as will be our response. We will endeavour to keep you informed along the way.

Kindest regards,

Richard Williams

and the

Aardent Dental Centre Team

How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth at Night

by | Feb 5, 2025 | Dental Care

bruxism

Do you grind your teeth while you sleep? If you wake up with a sore jaw or a headache, it might be because you do.

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common issue that can go unnoticed for years. However, it can damage your enamel and cause other dental complications if left unaddressed.

We’ll outline everything you need to know about the symptoms of teeth grinding, its causes, and some of its long-term effects, so keep reading.

What is bruxism?

Teeth grinding is a condition that you may not even realise you have. It’s an unconscious process by which you grind, clench, or gnash your teeth. Teeth grinding most often occurs at night, but you may subconsciously clench your jaw or grind your teeth during the day.

Some of the most common symptoms of a night filled with teeth grinding include:

  • waking with a painful jaw
  • headaches
  • sensitive teeth
  • swollen gums
  • sore inner cheeks.

Teeth grinding: Causes

The cause of teeth grinding is not always clear. However, grinding teeth at night has been linked to the following:

  • Stress and anxiety: grinding your teeth is a classic sign of stress
  • Diet: Drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated drinks or alcohol can increase bruxism
  • Medications: certain medications, including some antidepressants, can increase the likelihood of grinding your teeth
  • Sleep disorders: Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA may be the cause of your teeth grinding.
  • Smoking and using recreational drugs.

Simple lifestyle changes can reduce some causes of grinding teeth in your sleep. Simple mindfulness techniques aimed at reducing the effects of stress, like meditation, yoga, or a relaxing massage, can go a long way in helping with teeth grinding. Always consult your doctor or dentist if you are worried or need help making more significant changes to your everyday life.

How do you know if you grind your teeth: the symptoms

It can be hard to know if you are grinding your teeth at night, as this likely happens when you are asleep and unaware of your actions. However, teeth grinding can entail serious dental issues, so it pays to look out for the following:

  • Fractured or damaged teeth: Grinding your teeth can seriously damage your teeth, causing the enamel to become damaged and even fractured. It can also cause damage to fillings in the teeth.
  • Enamel erosion: The friction created by grinding your teeth together can lead to enamel abrasion.
  • Tooth sensitivity: Enamel abrasion due to teeth grinding can increase sensitivity.
  • Loosening or loss of teeth: The movement associated with grinding your teeth can cause your teeth to loosen or even fall out.
  • Headaches: If you grind your teeth at night, you may wake up with tension-type headaches, particularly around the back of your head and jawline.
  • Muscle issues, pain and stiffness: if you have any of these in your face and jaw joints, you’re probably grinding at night.
  • Disrupted sleep.

How do you stop grinding your teeth at night?

The most effective way to shake the habit of grinding teeth in sleep or during the day is to seek advice from your dentist. Three critical times to visit your dentist are:

  • If your teeth are worn, damaged, or more sensitive than usual.
  • You suffer from jaw, face, or ear pain that won’t let up.
  • Your partner notices you are making a grinding sound in your sleep.

After visiting your dentist, they will be able to advise you which course of action is best suited to you. Recommendations for how to prevent grinding teeth issues will depend on the specific causes behind your condition. They may suggest:

  • Yoga/mindfulness: relaxation exercises such as yoga or mindfulness can help reduce stress.
  • Creating a nighttime routine: going to bed simultaneously each night can improve sleep quality. Turning off devices an hour before bed can also help.
  • Lifestyle changes: reducing caffeine, alcohol or sugar intake or quitting cigarette smoking can all improve sleep.
  • Changes to medication prescriptions, following advice from your doctor.
  • If you suffer from pre-diagnosed stress or anxiety, they may also recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Wearing a night guard or occlusal splint while you sleep lessens the effects of grinding. Speak to your Vic Park dentist about sleep guards/occlusal splints.

If the previously listed methods don’t stop your teeth grinding, please seek further advice from your dental health professional.

How to prevent grinding teeth issues from damaging your teeth

Working out how to stop grinding teeth at night or during the day can be a long-term process. That means that you’ll need some strategies to prevent damage in the meantime. Your dentist may recommend wearing a protective mouth guard or occlusal splint to help protect your teeth and prevent grinding teeth at night from damaging your enamel.

Nightguards and Occlusal Splints Perth

At Aardent Dental Centre, our most common treatment for bruxism is using an occlusal splint.

Occlusal splints create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth. This barrier makes it impossible for your teeth to touch each other. Speak to your Vic Park dentist about creating a custom-made occlusal splint.

How to use an occlusal splint

  • Brush and floss teeth before use
  • Rinse your splint, then insert it as your dentist shows
  • Remove when you wake in the morning
  • Clean thoroughly
  • Store as shown.

Do I need a custom-made dental splint?

While your local pharmacy stocks generic mouthguards, they are often bulky and uncomfortable. They generally don’t fit very well and cover too much of your gum which can lead to other problems. Schedule an appointment with your local Victoria Park Dental Surgery, Aardent Dental Centre, to discuss the fabrication of a custom-made occlusal splint.

Occlusal Splints can:

  • Decrease the impact of bruxism
  • Reduce tooth wear and tear
  • Reduce morning headaches
  • Improve sleep quality.

A dental professional may also help prevent other oral health issues before they become problems.

Choose Aardent Dental Centre as your Victoria Park Dental Surgery

Aardent Dental Centre in Vic Park provides exceptional dental services. Contact us today and learn why the team at Aardent Dental Centre are so popular.