Why the jaw hurts when you wake up: a guide to checking for and managing teeth grinding
If your jaw feels stiff or your temples feel heavy when you wake up, grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep may be the cause. In Korea, the National Health Information Portal names teeth grinding as a behavioral contributing factor to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and explains that an occlusal splint is used to reduce grinding and tooth wear. What happens during sleep is hard to know yourself, so the starting point is having the dentist check the traces left on the teeth and in the mouth.
Key facts
| Teeth grinding and the jaw joint | Teeth grinding is a behavioral contributing factor to TMD (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
|---|---|
| Signs of grinding | Excessive tooth wear, tooth marks on the cheek lining and tongue, painless enlargement of the chewing muscles (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Role of the occlusal splint | Reduces grinding, prevents tooth wear and loosening, and spreads out the biting force (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal) |
| Time of wearing the device | Worn mainly at night (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단)) |
| Reported effect of the device | Symptom improvement of 70 to 90% reported with an occlusal splint (source: Seoul National University Hospital) |
| Normal jaw position | With the face relaxed, the upper and lower teeth are slightly apart (source: Seoul National University Hospital) |
Why does my jaw hurt in the morning?
If you keep grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep, the chewing muscles have effectively been working all night. As a result, in the morning the jaw muscles may feel stiff, the area in front of the ear may pull when you open your mouth, or the temples may feel heavy.
The National Health Information Portal names oral habits such as teeth grinding, biting nails or lips, and pushing the jaw forward and back as behavioral contributing factors to TMD. Irregular meals and excessive caffeine intake are on the same list, so it is good to look at morning jaw pain together with the previous day's habits.
Sleeping posture is also worth looking at. Lying on your side with one side of the face pressed on the pillow for a long time puts pressure on one jaw, and Seoul National University Hospital's medical information lists this kind of sleeping position as a bad habit for the jaw joint.
How can I tell whether I ground my teeth during the night?
Many people do not know they grind their teeth, and sometimes the person sleeping next to them hears it and tells them. Some people only clench silently without making a sound, so not having heard grinding does not mean you can relax.
The simple jaw joint exam introduced by the National Health Information Portal includes checking for excessive tooth wear, loose teeth, and tooth marks imprinted on the cheek lining or tongue. The same material also explains that chewing muscles that enlarge without pain and teeth that wear down abnormally are symptoms linked to TMD. If you have the signs below, you can suspect teeth grinding.
- The jaw muscles are stiff in the morning and opening the mouth is uncomfortable
- The tips of the front teeth or canines look worn flat
- Tooth marks pressed into the inside of the cheek or the edge of the tongue
- A feeling of firm, enlarged muscle at the corner of the jaw
How does an occlusal splint help with morning jaw pain?
An occlusal splint is a removable resin device that covers all the teeth. The National Health Information Portal explains that this device reduces grinding and abnormal function, prevents tooth wear and loosening, and spreads out the biting force. It is also called a night guard or a grinding appliance, and according to NHIS material it is worn mainly at night.
Seoul National University Hospital's medical information introduces symptom improvement of 70 to 90% reported with an occlusal splint, while explaining that it must be made to fit the individual's tooth arrangement and that regular dental checkups are needed. If the bite feels different after wearing the device or the device becomes loose, have it adjusted at the dentist.
What can I change in daily life to reduce morning jaw pain?
Seoul National University Hospital's medical information explains that it is normal for the upper and lower teeth not to touch but to be slightly apart when the face is relaxed. Each time you notice your teeth are touching during the day, practice keeping the lips closed and the teeth apart, which helps reduce clenching in the daytime.
Before bed, cut back on caffeinated drinks and find a way to release the tension that built up during the day. The National Health Information Portal lists both excessive caffeine intake and stressful life events as contributing factors to TMD. Writing in a phone note the degree of morning jaw pain together with the previous day's activities makes it easier to find what has an effect.
When should I see a dentist for morning jaw pain?
See a dentist if morning jaw pain recurs often, continues into the day, or opening the mouth is becoming gradually more uncomfortable. If your teeth have become sensitive or a new chip or crack has appeared, the teeth may have been damaged by grinding, so the condition of the teeth is checked as well.
At the exam, the dentist looks at tooth wear, tooth marks inside the mouth, and tenderness of the chewing muscles and jaw joint, and recommends an occlusal splint if needed. The goal of management is not to stop the grinding completely but to protect the teeth and jaw joint and reduce the strain on the muscles.
If you are already using an occlusal splint and morning jaw pain continues, the device may be worn out or may no longer fit because of changes in the gums and teeth. In that case, bring the device and have the bite and wear checked.
Common myths and facts
Myth: Wearing an occlusal splint alone makes morning jaw pain go away right away.
Seoul National University Hospital's medical information explains that an occlusal splint is more effective when combined with other treatments than when used alone, and that regular dental checkups are needed.
Myth: At rest, it is normal for the upper and lower teeth to be touching.
According to Seoul National University Hospital's medical information, with the face relaxed, the normal state is for the teeth not to touch but to be slightly apart.
Myth: If there is no grinding sound, there is no teeth grinding.
A habit of silently clenching the teeth also strains the jaw muscles. At the dentist, it is confirmed through traces such as tooth wear and tooth marks left on the cheek and tongue.
Frequently asked questions
My morning jaw pain goes away by the afternoon. Can I just leave it?
Loosening up during the day may mean that muscles tensed overnight recover. Even so, if it repeats every day, teeth can wear down or strain can build up in the jaw joint, so it is good to have the dentist check for signs of grinding at least once.
Can I use a mouthguard sold at a pharmacy or store?
According to Seoul National University Hospital's medical information, an occlusal splint is a device made to fit each person's tooth arrangement and must be checked with regular checkups while in use. A device that does not fit your tooth arrangement has trouble doing its intended job, so if you want to use a grinding device, it is good to be checked at the dentist first.
What should I do if I have a headache along with morning jaw pain?
A headache that squeezes the temples in the morning can occur together with jaw muscle tension. Seoul National University Hospital's medical information treats recurrent headache linked to muscle pain in the jaw, head, neck and shoulders as a main symptom of TMD. However, if it is a sudden, severe headache, other causes must be checked first.
How long do I have to wear a grinding appliance?
The period of wear is decided at the dentist according to symptoms and exam results. NHIS material explains that an occlusal splint is worn mainly at night, and if the device wears out or stops fitting, adjustment or remaking may be needed.
Does cutting back on caffeine help with morning jaw pain?
The National Health Information Portal names excessive caffeine intake as a behavioral contributing factor to TMD. If you drink a lot of coffee or energy drinks, start by reducing what you drink in the late afternoon and record whether the morning jaw pain changes.