Is it possible to tell if you grind your teeth during sleep?

Yes: When teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis, it can injure teeth and cause mouth or jaw pain. This condition is called bruxism, and is a cause of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, which can be very painful and make eating difficult. A dentist can often detect bruxism even before the patient experiences jaw pain. Mouth guards can be effective in treating the problem.

Yes: The wear patterns on the teeth and possible tenderness of the jaw muscles and TMJ are good signs of grinding. Your dentist can easily evaluate your mouth and determine if you have grinding.