Almost nobody comes in asking for a night guard in Mableton. They come in because their jaw aches in the morning, a tooth suddenly feels sensitive to cold, or their partner mentioned a grinding noise at 3 a.m. The pattern usually shows up on the teeth long before the patient notices it.
Here is what grinding does, how we spot it, and when a guard is worth the money.
Signs you are grinding your teeth at night
Bruxism happens while you are asleep, so the evidence is indirect:
- A dull headache at the temples in the morning
- Jaw soreness or a tired feeling in the muscles at the side of your face
- Teeth that feel sensitive to cold with no cavity to blame
- Flattened, shiny wear facets on the biting surfaces
- Small chips along the edges of front teeth
- Fillings or crowns that keep breaking
- Gums that have receded on one side more than the other
At a checkup we look at the wear pattern on your enamel and how your teeth meet. Wear from grinding has a distinct look, and it tells us how long it has been going on.
What grinding actually costs you
Enamel does not grow back. Once it is worn through, the softer dentin underneath wears faster, teeth get shorter and more sensitive, and edges start to chip.
Grinding also loads restorations far beyond normal chewing force. That is why a crown or a filling that should last many years fails early. If you have invested in crowns, veneers or implants, unaddressed grinding is the fastest way to shorten their life. We have written more about what teeth grinding does if you want the longer version.
Cracks are the other risk. A tooth under repeated heavy force can develop a crack that eventually needs root canal treatment or, in bad cases, removal. Our post on cracked, chipped or worn teeth walks through repair options.
How a custom night guard is made
A custom guard is a thin, precisely fitted appliance that sits between your upper and lower teeth while you sleep. It gives your teeth a surface to grind against that is not enamel, and it spreads force more evenly across the arch.
The process is simple. We take impressions or a scan, the guard is fabricated to your bite, and you come back to have it fitted and adjusted so it seats comfortably and your bite feels even. Our night guard page covers the service, and our post on the role of night guards explains where they fit into a treatment plan.
Most people adapt within a week or two. It should feel snug, never painful, and if it does not, bring it back and we will adjust it.
Custom night guards versus drugstore guards
Boil-and-bite guards from the pharmacy are cheap and easy to try, and that is their whole advantage. They are bulky, they wear out quickly, and because they are not built to your bite, they can shift your jaw into a position that leaves you more sore than before. Plenty of them end up on the nightstand by week two.
A custom guard costs more and lasts far longer. If you are protecting a mouth full of restorative work, that math is not close.
Caring for your night guard
Rinse it with cool water each morning and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush — no hot water, which warps the material, and no abrasive toothpaste, which scratches it. Let it dry before it goes back in its case.
Bring it to your cleanings. We check the fit and the wear pattern, and the amount of wear on the guard tells us whether your grinding is getting better or worse.
Habits that reduce grinding
A guard protects your teeth but does not stop the clenching. Stress is a common driver, and so are caffeine late in the day, alcohol before bed, and untreated sleep-disordered breathing. If we suspect a sleep issue, we will suggest talking to your physician.
Daytime clenching is worth watching too. Many people catch themselves with teeth together while driving down the East-West Connector or staring at a screen. Teeth should only touch when you swallow or chew.
Get fitted for a night guard in Mableton
If you are waking up sore or have been told you grind, an exam will show us how much wear has already happened and whether a guard is enough on its own.
Call 770-941-7588 or schedule a visit with our Mableton team. Ongoing routine cleanings are how we keep an eye on wear over time.