Most people who grind do not know they do. It usually shows up as wear, cracks, sensitivity, or morning jaw soreness — and it is often the reason dental work fails early.
A well-fitted guard protects teeth from wear and distributes load. It does not stop the grinding habit itself, and it is not a treatment for jaw joint disorders. Over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards fit less accurately and can alter your bite; a custom guard is made to your teeth.
Where grinding is linked to stress or sleep-disordered breathing, that is worth investigating with the right clinician rather than treating only the surfaces.
A page can inform you. It cannot examine you.
Mention it at your exam. Wear patterns are visible long before you feel anything.
General information reviewed by Mankirat Gill, DDS · August 2026. Not a substitute for an in-person examination.