Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Bruxism & Teeth Grinding Treatment Rooted in Airway Health

Bruxism wears down teeth, strains the jaw and disrupts sleep. Often, it's the body's response to a narrowed airway — and that's exactly where we look first.

Understanding Bruxism

Why you grind — and what it means

Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of teeth, most often during sleep. Over time it chips and flattens teeth, tightens jaw muscles, and contributes to headaches and TMJ pain — and most people don't know they're doing it.

Research increasingly links nighttime grinding to sleep-disordered breathing: as the airway narrows, the jaw thrusts and clenches to reopen it. That's why we screen every bruxism patient's airway — protecting your teeth while treating the reason you grind.

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FAQ

Bruxism questions

Bruxism is the medical term for clenching or grinding your teeth, usually during sleep. Common signs include worn or chipped teeth, jaw tightness in the morning, temple headaches and a partner hearing grinding sounds at night.
Start by finding out why you grind. A custom night appliance protects your teeth right away, and if a narrowed airway is triggering the grinding — which is common — gentle airway-focused therapy addresses the cause so the habit can finally settle.
Stress, bite imbalance and certain medications can all play a role. In many patients, however, grinding is the body's response to sleep-disordered breathing: brief arousals during sleep activate the jaw as it works to reopen the airway.
Because sleep bruxism is involuntary, willpower alone won't stop it. A custom-fitted nighttime appliance shields your teeth immediately, while evaluating and treating your sleep and airway tackles the trigger itself.
Yes — it's one of the most common causes of waking up with dull temple or tension headaches. Hours of nighttime clenching overwork the jaw and temple muscles, and the pain often eases as the morning goes on.
Frequently, yes. Studies link grinding episodes to the micro-arousals of sleep-disordered breathing — the jaw clenches and thrusts forward to keep the airway open. Treating only the teeth misses that root cause, which is why our bruxism evaluation always includes the airway.

Protect your teeth — and your sleep

A complimentary consultation reveals whether your grinding is an airway problem in disguise.

Call 407.679.5151