Teeth grinding at night is one of those problems that can quietly build momentum. You might feel “fine” most days—until you notice your jaw is sore in the morning, your teeth feel sensitive, or a dentist points out wear you didn’t know you had. That’s the tricky part: many people don’t realize they’re doing it, because it often happens during sleep.
This article walks through the most reliable signs of teeth grinding at night, with practical ways to spot patterns in your own routine. You’ll learn how bruxism symptoms tend to show up, what sleep bruxism signs look like beyond just “I hear grinding,” and how to connect the dots between teeth clenching while sleeping and common issues like jaw pain in the morning and headaches from grinding teeth. We’ll also cover what to do next—without panic, and without guessing.
Note about GoLyla.com: the site currently redirects to a password-protected “Opening Soon” page with an email sign-up. Because of that, there’s limited publicly available brand-specific information to pull into this education article.
What night grinding really is (and why it’s easy to miss)
Nighttime grinding and clenching fall under bruxism. When it happens during sleep, it’s often referred to as sleep bruxism. The main issue isn’t just the sound—many people clench silently. Either way, the forces can be far greater than normal chewing, and the repeated pressure can affect teeth, dental work, muscles, and the jaw joints.
Commonly reported bruxism symptoms include morning headaches or facial pain, sore jaw muscles, ear-related discomfort, and pain when eating.
Dental sources also note visible tooth wear, chipped/cracked teeth, and damaged areas along tooth edges as classic signs of teeth grinding at night.
Grinding vs clenching: why the distinction matters
If you’re trying to figure out how to know if you clench your teeth, this helps:
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Grinding is often side-to-side movement that creates wear facets and can make audible noise.
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Clenching is often sustained pressure with less movement, which can overload muscles and joints even without obvious “scrape” marks.
Both can create signs of teeth grinding at night. Clenching can be harder to detect because it may be silent, but the muscle and joint symptoms can be just as real.
12 signs of teeth grinding at night (and what each one really means)
Below are 12 signs of teeth grinding at night, explained in a way you can actually use. Each sign includes what it feels like, why it happens, and a quick “real life” example so you can compare it to your own experience.
1) Jaw pain in the morning or a tired, tight jaw
One of the most common signs of teeth grinding at night is waking up with jaw pain in the morning—especially stiffness when you first start talking or eating. Grinding and teeth clenching while sleeping can fatigue the masseter and temporalis muscles the way a workout fatigues your legs.
Why it happens:
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Your jaw muscles may be contracting for long periods during sleep.
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The joints (TMJs) can be stressed if your bite is loaded repeatedly.
Practical example:
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You wake up and feel like you’ve been chewing gum for hours.
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Your jaw feels sore on one side more than the other.
Jaw soreness is a commonly listed bruxism symptom, and jaw/facial pain and morning headache patterns are frequently reported in clinical summaries of bruxism.
Quick self-check:
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Open your mouth slowly in the mirror. If it feels tight, deviates to one side, or aches, log it for a week.
2) Headaches from grinding teeth, especially at the temples
Headaches from grinding teeth are another top-tier clue. Many people describe these as a dull, tension-like ache near the temples or sides of the head when they wake up.
Why it happens:
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The temporalis muscle (a chewing muscle on the side of your head) can tighten during clenching.
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Muscle tension and joint strain can radiate pain.
Practical example:
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You wake up with a “band” of pressure, but it fades later in the day.
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The headache feels muscular, not like a cold or sinus issue.
Morning headaches and facial pain are frequently listed among bruxism symptoms, especially in the morning.
Quick self-check:
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Press gently on your temples. If they’re tender in the morning and fine by afternoon, that pattern supports signs of teeth grinding at night.
3) Tooth sensitivity grinding pattern: cold air, cold drinks, or brushing hurts
Tooth sensitivity grinding is often overlooked because people assume sensitivity always means a cavity. Grinding can wear enamel, expose underlying layers, and create micro-cracks that make teeth more reactive to temperature.
Why it happens:
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Enamel wear exposes more sensitive tooth structure.
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Small cracks can transmit sensation more intensely.
Practical example:
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Cold water stings certain teeth, especially front teeth.
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Brushing feels “zappy” on a few spots.
Tooth pain or sensitivity is listed among bruxism-related symptoms and effects, including worn enamel exposing inner layers.
Quick self-check:
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Note whether sensitivity is worse in the morning or after stressful days. That timing can match teeth clenching while sleeping.
4) Worn down teeth signs: flattened edges or shiny “polished” spots
If you want visible signs of teeth grinding at night, worn down teeth signs are among the most telling. Grinding can flatten the biting edges, especially on front teeth, and create smooth, shiny wear facets on molars.
Why it happens:
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Repeated tooth-on-tooth contact removes enamel.
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The surface can look unnaturally smooth or flattened.
Practical example:
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Your front teeth look shorter than in old photos.
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You notice tiny “flat planes” on molars where there used to be grooves.
Flattened or worn enamel and worn, damaged spots along tooth edges are commonly referenced as bruxism-related findings.
Quick self-check:
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Compare a current selfie to one from 2–3 years ago, focusing on the edges of your front teeth.
5) Cracked teeth from grinding or tiny chips you can’t explain
Cracked teeth from grinding can range from micro-cracks (craze lines) to chips or larger fractures. You might not remember biting anything hard—because the damage happens from force, not food.
Why it happens:
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Grinding loads teeth in ways they weren’t designed for.
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Fillings and crowns can concentrate stress at edges.
Practical example:
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You feel a sharp edge with your tongue.
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A small corner chips off a tooth after “nothing happened.”
Chipped or cracked teeth are classic signs noted by dental sources discussing teeth grinding and bruxism.
Quick self-check:
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Run your tongue along tooth edges. New roughness can be an early sign of teeth grinding at night.
6) Sore facial muscles or pain when chewing (even soft foods)
Bruxism symptoms aren’t only about teeth. Muscle fatigue can make chewing feel tiring, and the jaw may feel sore even when you’re eating something easy.
Why it happens:
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Overworked jaw muscles remain tender.
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The muscles may spasm or feel “tight” at trigger points.
Practical example:
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Chewing a bagel feels like effort.
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Your cheeks feel sore when you smile.
Sore jaw muscles and pain when eating are commonly listed among bruxism symptoms.
Quick self-check:
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Gently massage the masseter (cheek muscle near the back teeth). If it’s tender, track it alongside other signs of teeth grinding at night.
7) Tongue scalloping or cheek ridges from teeth clenching while sleeping
Here’s a subtle but useful indicator for how to know if you clench your teeth: the soft tissues often show it. Some people develop scalloped edges on the tongue or a raised line inside the cheek (from pressing against teeth).
Why it happens:
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Clenching narrows the space for the tongue.
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Soft tissue can press against teeth for long periods.
Practical example:
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You see wavy indentations along your tongue edges in the morning.
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You have a persistent “line” on the inside of your cheek.
Quick self-check:
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Look at your tongue edges right after waking. If scalloping is consistent and you also have jaw pain in the morning, it strengthens the case for signs of teeth grinding at night.
8) Clicking, popping, or locking sensations in the jaw joint
Sleep bruxism signs can involve the jaw joints, not just the teeth. Clicking or popping isn’t always serious, but when combined with other signs of teeth grinding at night, it can point to joint strain.
Why it happens:
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Repeated loading can irritate the TMJ area.
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Muscles can pull the joint into less comfortable movement patterns.
Practical example:
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Your jaw clicks when you yawn.
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You sometimes feel like your jaw “catches” when opening wide.
Jaw stiffness/locking and clicking/popping are often discussed in broader TMJ disorder symptom lists, and bruxism can contribute to jaw pain.
Quick self-check:
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Track clicking plus jaw pain in the morning for two weeks. The combination is more meaningful than clicking alone.
9) Earaches, ear fullness, or ringing sensations that aren’t an ear infection
This one surprises people. Bruxism symptoms can feel like ear problems because the jaw joint sits close to the ear, and muscle/joint pain can refer sensation.
Why it happens:
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TMJ area inflammation can mimic ear discomfort.
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Jaw muscle tension can radiate around the ear region.
Practical example:
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You feel ear pressure, but your ears look normal at checkups.
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The discomfort is worse after a stressful week.
Earaches and tinnitus are listed among bruxism symptoms in clinical summaries.
Quick self-check:
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If ear discomfort is paired with worn down teeth signs or headaches from grinding teeth, it may be part of signs of teeth grinding at night rather than an ear issue.
10) Your partner hears grinding, or you wake up from your own jaw tension
Audible grinding is the “classic” sleep bruxism sign, but it’s not required. Still, if someone hears it, that’s one of the most direct signs of teeth grinding at night.
Why it happens:
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Grinding involves movement and friction.
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Clenching may be silent, which is why many people miss it.
Practical example:
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A partner says you “scrape” your teeth at night.
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You wake up with your jaw clenched and have to consciously relax it.
Quick self-check:
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If you sleep alone, consider using a phone sleep-recording app for a few nights. It’s not diagnostic, but it can capture grinding sounds.
11) Dental work keeps chipping, loosening, or wearing down
If you’ve had fillings, crowns, bonding, or veneers, signs of teeth grinding at night may show up as repeated wear or breakage of restorations—sometimes long before natural teeth show obvious changes.
Why it happens:
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Dental materials can fracture under repeated high load.
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Edges of restorations can take the brunt of grinding forces.
Practical example:
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You’ve repaired the same tooth more than once.
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A filling feels “high” or rough soon after being placed.
Bruxism can contribute to damage of teeth and dental repairs, and severe bruxism can damage fillings/crowns and cause jaw or facial pain.
Quick self-check:
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If a dentist has ever said you have wear facets or “evidence of grinding,” take it seriously—those are often early signs of teeth grinding at night.
12) You wake up with tight neck or shoulder muscles
This last one isn’t a tooth symptom, but it’s a common “pattern” symptom. Teeth clenching while sleeping can recruit neck muscles as part of a full-body tension posture.
Why it happens:
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Jaw clenching can co-activate neck muscles.
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Sleep posture + stress can amplify muscle guarding.
Practical example:
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Your neck feels stiff on waking, especially after stressful days.
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Jaw pain in the morning and neck tightness show up together.
Quick self-check:
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If neck tightness reliably appears with headaches from grinding teeth, consider it part of your overall sleep bruxism signs picture.
A simple way to self-assess: a 7-day signs tracker
Because signs of teeth grinding at night can be subtle, tracking beats guessing. Use this quick 7-day method:
Step 1: Rate your morning symptoms daily (0–10)
Track:
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jaw pain in the morning
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headache intensity (especially temples)
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tooth sensitivity grinding episodes
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jaw clicking/popping
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neck/shoulder tightness
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“tired jaw” when chewing
Step 2: Look for visible worn down teeth signs
Once during the week:
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Check tooth edges for new chips
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Look for flattened front teeth edges
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Note any new roughness
Step 3: Add context that often correlates with sleep bruxism signs
Log:
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Stress level that day
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Caffeine/alcohol timing
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Sleep quality
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Any new medications (if applicable)
After a week, you’re not trying to “diagnose yourself.” You’re building a clearer story to take to a dentist or clinician.
When signs of teeth grinding at night need a dental visit (don’t wait)
Make an appointment sooner rather than later if you have any of the following:
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cracked teeth from grinding (even small chips that keep happening)
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tooth sensitivity grinding that’s worsening or spreading
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jaw pain in the morning that lasts into the afternoon
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headaches from grinding teeth more than once a week
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jaw locking, limited opening, or persistent joint pain
Dental and medical sources note that bruxism can damage teeth and dental work and contribute to facial/jaw pain and headache patterns.
What a dentist may look for (so you know what to expect)
If you bring up signs of teeth grinding at night, a dentist may assess:
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tooth wear patterns (matching facets)
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cracks or chipped edges
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gum recession or tooth mobility in severe cases
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jaw muscle tenderness and range of motion
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how your bite contacts when you close
A key point: you don’t need every symptom. Many people with sleep bruxism signs have only a few.
What helps reduce damage (and why protection often comes first)
If the signs of teeth grinding at night are already showing up, the first goal is often to reduce damage while you and your provider work on contributors (stress, sleep quality, bite factors, etc.).
Common approaches include:
Protective barrier options
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A dental night guard or occlusal guard can protect teeth from direct grinding contact.
Behavior and routine changes (supportive, not “magic”)
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Reduce late-day caffeine
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Wind-down routine that lowers overall tension
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Avoid chewing gum if jaw muscles are already sore
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Gentle jaw relaxation exercises (provider-guided if you have TMJ symptoms)
Medical screening when indicated
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If you have snoring, gasping, or daytime sleepiness, ask about screening for sleep-disordered breathing. Some cases of sleep bruxism signs overlap with broader sleep issues, and it’s worth discussing with a clinician.
Strong conclusion: turn clues into clarity
Signs of teeth grinding at night rarely appear as one giant flashing warning sign. More often, they show up as small “life annoyances” that repeat: jaw pain in the morning, headaches from grinding teeth, tooth sensitivity grinding episodes, or worn down teeth signs you only notice when you really look. The good news is that these patterns are trackable, discussable, and treatable.
If you see multiple signs of teeth grinding at night in your own routine, don’t settle for guessing. Track symptoms for a week, schedule a dental evaluation, and focus on protecting your teeth early—because cracks, wear, and muscle pain tend to compound over time.