Teeth Grinding and Night Guards in Florence, AL

Bruxism is the habit of grinding or clenching the teeth, most often during sleep. The forces involved are far greater than those of ordinary chewing and are applied for far longer, so over years they wear enamel, flatten cusps, crack restorations, and load the jaw joint and muscles.

Signs a dentist looks for

• Flattened, shiny wear facets on the biting surfaces
• Chipped enamel edges or repeatedly fractured fillings
• Generalized sensitivity without obvious decay
• Notching at the gum line and recession
• Jaw muscle tenderness, headaches around the temples, or morning stiffness
• A partner reporting grinding sounds at night
• Tongue or cheek indentations from clenching

Contributing factors

Stress, sleep disturbance including snoring and sleep apnea, certain medications and stimulants, caffeine and alcohol, and bite irregularities are all associated with bruxism. Because the causes are mixed, management is usually about protecting the teeth and reducing the load rather than promising to eliminate the habit.

What a custom night guard does

A custom guard is made from an impression or scan of your teeth, so it fits precisely and distributes force evenly. It protects the teeth and restorations from wear and fracture, and often reduces muscle soreness. It does not stop the grinding itself — it changes what absorbs it.

Custom versus over-the-counter

• Fit — a boil-and-bite guard fits loosely and can shift, encouraging further clenching.
• Bite balance — a custom guard is adjusted so contacts are even; a generic one can create uneven loading.
• Durability — heavy grinders wear through soft over-the-counter material quickly.
• Supervision — a custom guard comes with review appointments to check the fit and the teeth over time.

What the process involves

1. Examination of wear patterns, bite, muscles, and jaw joint
2. Discussion of contributing factors and any medical referral worth making
3. Impression or digital scan of the arches
4. Fabrication, then fitting and bite adjustment
5. Review appointments to monitor wear and comfort

If teeth are already worn

Where wear has already caused sensitivity, fracture, or significant loss of tooth structure, protection is combined with repair — often fillings or crowns, depending on how much structure remains. See signs a tooth needs restorative care.

Next step

If you wake with a sore jaw or have been told you grind, request an appointment or call about night guards in Florence, Alabama. Also see jaw pain and TMJ basics.