Treatments for teeth grinding (bruxism) include using mouth guards or mouth splints and therapy. If you grind your teeth while you're asleep, it may help to wear a mouth guard or mouth splint at night.

Mouth guards and splints even out the pressure across your jaw and create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth to protect them from further damage. They can also reduce any grinding noises you make at night.

Mouth guards are similar to those used in sports such as boxing or rugby. They are rubber or plastic and can be made by your dentist to fit your mouth. You can also buy a mouth guard from your local pharmacist, but it's unlikely to fit as well as a custom-made one.

A mouth splint is made from harder plastic and fits precisely over your upper or lower teeth. It also lasts several years longer than mouth guards (less than a year) in reducing the symptoms of teeth grinding.

Treating stress and anxiety

The underlying cause of your teeth grinding may be stress or anxiety, psychological treatments may help. If your teeth grinding is stress-related, it's also important to try to relax and get a good night's sleep.

Treating and preventing dental problems

You should have regular dental check-ups so that any problems caused by your teeth grinding are treated as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Dental problems, such as misaligned, cracked, crooked or missing teeth, can usually be treated with reconstructive dental treatments, such as false teeth, overlays and crowns.

These treatments can sometimes reshape the chewing surface of your teeth and stop you grinding.

Medication

Medication isn't usually used to treat teeth grinding. But non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help relieve any pain or swelling around your jaw caused by grinding.

In some cases, your dentist may suggest taking a muscle relaxant before you go to bed to help relieve your symptoms.