A sore jaw or a dull headache first thing in the morning is one of the most common signs of teeth grinding (bruxism), and most people who do it have no idea, because it happens in their sleep.
We usually spot it before the patient does. Flattened or worn edges on the front teeth, small cracks in the enamel, or a filling that keeps chipping in the same spot are all patterns that point to grinding, not decay.
It is often stress-related, though not always. Some people grind because of how their bite lines up, or because of certain sleep patterns. Either way, the wear adds up quietly over months and years until a tooth actually fractures.
The most common fix is a night guard, custom-fitted from a mould of your own teeth rather than the generic kind from a pharmacy, which rarely fits well enough to actually protect anything. It does not stop the grinding itself, but it stops the damage.
If you are waking up with jaw soreness, a headache that fades by mid-morning, or a partner has mentioned hearing you grind at night, it is worth having us take a look. This is one of those things that is genuinely easier to catch early.
Read more about mouth guards and teeth reshaping at our Balewadi clinic.
