Night splints for teeth grinding.

Grinding, clenching and why it happens

Bruxism is the habit of grinding the teeth side to side or clenching them together. Sleep bruxism happens in short bursts during the night, often without the person knowing, while awake bruxism is usually clenching during concentration, driving or stress. A night splint is mainly for sleep grinding.

There’s rarely a single cause. Stress and anxiety, disrupted sleep, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, some medicines (including certain antidepressants) and sleep-related breathing problems are all thought to play a part. Grinding often comes and goes, and may be worse during busy or stressful periods, after a late night or when sleep is broken by a new baby or shift work.

Signs your teeth are taking the strain

Because grinding happens at night, your dentist often spots the wear at a check‑up before you’re aware of it. Other signs include:

• Flattened or shiny worn edges, especially on the canines and front teeth
• Small chips, cracks, or fillings that keep breaking
• Teeth that ache or feel sensitive first thing in the morning
• Tired or tight jaw muscles on waking, or a dull headache at the temples
• Scalloped edges on the tongue or a white ridge inside the cheeks
• Jaw muscles that look enlarged at the angle of the jaw
• A partner hearing grinding at night

What years of grinding can do

Enamel doesn’t grow back. As grinding wears through it, the softer dentine underneath is exposed, which can make teeth sensitive and cause them to wear faster still. Over time, teeth can become noticeably shorter, back teeth can crack, and fillings, crowns and veneers can chip or come loose.

Heavily worn teeth can often be rebuilt, but that’s usually more involved than protecting them earlier. If you’ve recently had crowns, veneers or implants, your dentist may suggest a splint afterwards to help protect that work from night-time forces.

How a hard splint protects your teeth

A stabilisation splint is a thin, custom-made plate of hard acrylic that usually covers all the upper teeth. Its smooth surface lets the lower teeth glide without catching, so grinding forces land on acrylic rather than enamel and are spread evenly across the teeth.

Most splints won’t stop grinding; their main job is protection, although some people find they wake with less jaw tightness. Hard acrylic is used because soft guards can be chewed through and, for some people, may encourage more clenching. Splints that cover only a few teeth can let teeth shift over time, which is why full-coverage designs are generally preferred for long-term night wear.

Who a splint may suit, and other approaches

A splint may suit people with visible wear, repeated broken fillings, crowns or veneers that need protecting, or morning muscle tiredness linked to grinding. It may not be the first step if you have loose teeth from gum disease or decay that needs treating first.

Loud snoring, gasping or waking unrefreshed can be signs of obstructive sleep apnoea, which is sometimes linked with grinding. A standard grinding splint isn’t a treatment for sleep apnoea, so talk to your GP about a sleep assessment.

Alongside a splint, it can help to cut back on caffeine and alcohol in the evening, wind down before bed and look at sources of stress. If jaw joint pain, clicking or locking is your main concern, our jaw pain and TMD page covers that separately.

Getting used to wearing it

The first few nights can feel odd. Many people notice extra saliva or a sense of fullness, or wake to find they’ve taken the splint out in their sleep. This usually settles within a week or two. Wearing it every night, rather than now and then, tends to make it easier to get used to and keeps the fit consistent.

Your bite may feel slightly different for a short while after you take it out in the morning, and this should fade within an hour or so. If your bite feels changed all day, the splint rubs, or a tooth starts to ache, stop wearing it and call us, as it may need adjusting.

Cleaning and storing your splint

A few habits keep a splint fresh and help it last:

• Each morning, rinse it and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild liquid soap, as toothpaste can scratch acrylic
• Brush your own teeth before putting it in at night
• Use cool or lukewarm water only, since hot water may warp it
• Let it dry, then keep it in its case
• Keep it out of reach of dogs, which are drawn to the smell and will chew it
• Bring it to every check‑up so we can look for cracks and wear

Reviews, lifespan and cost

A review a few weeks after fitting is common, to check the marks your teeth leave on the splint and smooth any high spots. After that, bring it to your regular check‑ups. Heavy grinders may wear grooves into the acrylic, which shows it’s absorbing the wear, and it may eventually need repair or replacement. A new crown, filling or extraction can change the fit, so let us know if you have one. If your jaw joints ache or click more while you’re wearing the splint, mention it at your review so we can reassess.

The cost depends on the design and how many adjustments are needed. Splints are often claimable on extras cover, but the category and limit vary between policies, so it’s worth checking with your fund using the item number.