Watch Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Grinding your teeth at night? Why bruxism deserves attention
Often while you sleep and have no idea it's happening, bruxism, the chronic clenching or grinding of the teeth, puts up to 150 pounds of pressure between your jaws. Over the years that force flattens front teeth, chips their edges, fractures back teeth, and grinds the enamel down to the softer dentin underneath. Plenty of patients only discover they grind when a dentist points out the telltale wear patterns.
The video breaks down what happens inside your mouth as you grind, why the damage builds up so quietly year after year, and how the warning signs can surface well away from the teeth, as jaw pain, morning headaches, facial soreness, or unexplained tooth sensitivity. Mild grinding in kids is common and usually outgrown, but in adults persistent grinding rarely clears up on its own.
Here's the good news: caught early, bruxism is highly manageable. Treatment most often centers on a custom-fitted night guard that absorbs the force and shields the enamel, frequently paired with stress management, bite adjustment, or care for an underlying TMJ disorder.
Teeth that look shorter than they used to, small chips at the gumline, or a jaw that aches when you wake up are all reasons not to wait. At Modern Essence Dentistry we read the wear patterns, pin down the root cause, and tailor treatment to stop further damage.
Want the full story on TMJ & TMD Treatment?
Our complete treatment guide covers what to expect, the procedure step by step, recovery, costs, and answers to the questions patients ask most.
Read the TMJ & TMD Treatment guide