Grinding, Clenching, and Jaw Pain: What You Need to Know about TMJ

As the holiday season begins, stress tends to show up in surprising ways — not just in our shoulders or our schedule, but often in our jaw. I see many patients this time of year who wake with headaches, sore jaw muscles, or teeth that feel tight together. Most don’t realize they’re clenching or grinding while they sleep. This pattern, known as bruxism, can overwork the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — the small but powerful hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. At Dental Healing Arts, we take a biologic and holistic approach to dentistry. That means we look beyond symptoms to understand how your bite, posture, airway, and nervous system all influence each other. TMJ pain is rarely “just dental.” It’s a reflection of how your body is responding to tension and imbalance — and the good news is, it can be treated.

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Understanding TMJ Disorder

The TMJ is one of the most complex joints in your body, responsible for chewing, speaking, and even facial expression. When the muscles that support it become tight or fatigued, you may notice:

• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Clicking or popping when opening your mouth
• Headaches or ear pain
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Tooth sensitivity or enamel wear

Over time, chronic clenching can even change the shape of your teeth and affect your facial symmetry — something I pay close attention to in cosmetic dentistry.

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Why Do We Grind Our Teeth?

Most patients grind their teeth at night without realizing it. Some reasons include:

• Stress and sympathetic activation (fight-or-flight mode)
• Airway restriction, such as mouth breathing or mild sleep-disordered breathing
• Bite misalignment
• Neck or posture issues
• Muscle tension patterns
• Digestive inflammation or systemic stress

Because I practice biologic, whole-body dentistry, I never view TMJ pain as an isolated problem. The jaw is deeply connected to the nervous system, airway function, posture, and even emotional stress. Grinding is often the body’s attempt to stabilize itself — but it does so at the expense of your teeth and jaw.

How a Custom Night Guard Helps TMJ Symptoms

A custom night guard is not the same as an over-the-counter mouthguard. Store-bought guards are often bulky, uneven, or too soft, and can actually worsen bite imbalance. A professionally crafted, dentist-designed night guard offers several benefits:

• Reduces TMJ Muscle Strain By creating a stable, cushioned surface between the upper and lower teeth, the night guard reduces overactivity in the jaw muscles. This often leads to fewer morning headaches and less facial tension.
• Protects Enamel and Restorations Grinding can exert up to 250 lbs of pressure. A custom night guard prevents fractures, cracks, and premature wear on both natural teeth and cosmetic restorations.
• Supports Balanced Jaw Alignment A precisely fitted guard guides the jaw into a more relaxed, neuromuscularly favorable position during sleep.
• Improves Sleep Quality When the muscles and joints of the jaw can relax, sleep often becomes deeper and more restorative.
• Enhances Long-Term Oral and Facial Wellness Jaw harmony influences facial symmetry, bite stability, airway function, and the longevity of cosmetic dental work. This is especially important for patients interested in veneers, Invisalign, or smile design.

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The ProSomnus EVO Appliance: A Next-Level Option for TMJ and Airway Support‍

For some patients, nighttime clenching and jaw tension are closely tied to airway restriction—especially mouth breathing or mild sleep-disordered breathing. In these cases, a traditional night guard may protect the teeth but won’t address the root cause. That’s where the ProSomnus EVO appliance can be especially helpful.
The ProSomnus EVO is a precision-designed, FDA-cleared oral appliance that gently positions the lower jaw forward during sleep. This improves airflow, reduces airway collapse, and decreases the muscular compensation that often leads to grinding and TMJ strain. Many patients experience fewer headaches, less jaw tension, quieter sleep, and better overall rest.

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Unlike bulky CPAP machines or over-the-counter devices, the EVO appliance is custom-fitted, slim, comfortable, and made from a durable medical-grade material that allows for precise jaw positioning. For the right patient, it can serve as both a TMJ-supportive therapy and an airway-optimizing alternative to traditional guards.

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Our Holistic TMJ Approach at Dental Healing Arts

When assessing TMJ symptoms, I look at far more than the jaw itself. A comprehensive TMJ evaluation includes:

• Examination of bite alignment (occlusion)
• Palpation of jaw and facial muscles
• Range-of-motion analysis
• Screening for airway restriction or mouth breathing
• Posture and cervical alignment
• Evaluation of grinding patterns on the teeth
• Lifestyle and stress factors

This 360° view allows me to design a personalized treatment plan. A custom night guard is often the foundation, but depending on your needs, we may also incorporate:

• Bite balancing adjustments
• Myofunctional therapy
• Airway or breathing correction strategies
• Postural or muscular retraining
• Stress-reduction techniques that support the parasympathetic nervous system

My goal is always long-term relief, not short-term symptom management.

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A Final Word

MJ disorder can affect your comfort, sleep, confidence, and overall quality of life — but it is highly treatable. A custom night guard, when designed with a biologic and holistic lens, can protect your teeth, relieve muscle tension, and restore balance to the entire jaw system. If you’ve been waking up with pain, tension, or signs of grinding, don’t ignore it. Your jaw is telling you something — and early support can prevent years of damage.

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🦷 To schedule a TMJ evaluation at Dental Healing Arts, call our office or request an appointment online.

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