Jaw pain and teeth grinding (TMJ and bruxism)

Common signs are waking with a sore jaw or a headache at the temples, teeth that look flattened or chipped at the edges, increasing sensitivity, or a partner who hears it. Many people grind for years without knowing until a dentist points out the wear pattern.

A custom-made night splint is the usual starting point. It does not stop the grinding but absorbs the force so your teeth do not. Where wear is already significant, rebuilding worn surfaces may also be discussed. Stress, sleep quality and airway can all contribute and may be worth looking at.

A boil-and-bite guard from a chemist is better than nothing for short-term use, but it is bulkier, wears through faster and does not fit the bite precisely. A custom splint is made from a scan of your teeth so the force spreads evenly.

Often yes. Worn edges can be rebuilt, though how it is done depends on how much enamel is left and whether the bite needs adjusting first. Protecting the teeth from further wear usually comes before rebuilding them.

It can. The muscles that clench the jaw run up the side of the head, and sustained overnight clenching commonly presents as a morning headache at the temples. It is worth mentioning to your dentist and your GP, since there are other causes too.

Typically two to five years depending on how heavily you grind. Heavy grinders wear through them faster, which is useful information in itself — the splint is showing you what would otherwise be happening to your teeth.

Several things, often together: clenching or grinding, an uneven bite, arthritis in the joint, injury, or muscle tension. Because the causes overlap, an assessment looks at the joint, the muscles and how your teeth meet rather than treating the pain alone.

Clicking usually means the cushioning disc inside the joint is moving out of position as you open. On its own, without pain or locking, it often needs monitoring rather than treatment. Clicking with pain, or a jaw that catches, is worth having assessed.