06/17/2026
The Wednesday Dental Tip: Your Teeth May Be Wearing Down While You Sleep
Many people grind or clench their teeth without even realizing it — especially at night.
At first, it may not feel like a big problem. Maybe your jaw feels sore in the morning. Maybe your teeth feel sensitive. Maybe you notice small changes near the gum line or your back teeth starting to look flatter.
But over time, grinding and clenching can create serious damage.
Dr. Zoe explains that enamel is the hardest substance in the body, even harder than bone. But constant pressure from grinding and clenching can slowly wear that enamel down. Once the enamel is worn away, the softer inner layer of the tooth, called dentin, becomes more exposed — and that can lead to sensitivity, pain, cracks, and other dental problems.
Grinding can also affect more than just your teeth. It can put pressure on your jaw joints, change the inside of your cheeks, and cause soreness around the jaw and facial muscles.
The good news is that there are ways to help protect your teeth.
A properly made night guard can create a cushion between your teeth and help reduce tooth-to-tooth damage. In some cases, other treatment options may also be recommended depending on how strong the clenching is and how much damage has already happened.
In this week’s dental tip, Dr. Zoe from Dental Group of Baltimore City explains what grinding and clenching can do to your teeth — and why it should not be ignored.
Schedule your dental checkup with .dds at Dental Group of Baltimore City:
(410) 685-0002