Bruxism is the clinical name for grinding and clenching your teeth. Some people do it in their sleep, some do it awake without noticing. It has a range of possible causes, and working out what is driving yours is the key to dealing with it properly. We take the time to look into it, then protect your teeth.
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is Bruxism, and What Causes It?
Bruxism is the medical word for grinding and clenching your teeth. If you have searched for "teeth grinding", this is the same thing under its clinical name. This page looks more at the why: what kinds of bruxism there are, what tends to cause it, and how we work out what is going on. For the day-to-day damage and protection side, see our Teeth Grinding page.
There are two broad types, and people can have one or both. Sleep bruxism is grinding or clenching in your sleep, which you usually do not know about until a partner mentions it or a dentist spots the wear. Awake bruxism is more about clenching or holding the teeth tight during the day, often when you are concentrating, driving or under pressure, again without realising.
The causes are not always clear-cut, and it is often a mix of things. Stress and tension are common threads. How your teeth meet, your bite, can play a part. So can sleep patterns and general lifestyle, for example caffeine, alcohol and smoking. Some medicines list teeth grinding as a side effect. And for some people there is no single obvious reason. We stay honest about this, because bruxism is not fully understood and no one can promise to pin down one cause.
Because it is partly to do with sleep, stress and general health, we treat the dental side and are straight with you about the rest. We protect your teeth, ease the strain on your jaw, and talk through the triggers we can see. Where something looks like it belongs with your GP, for example a sleep problem, we will point you there rather than treat it here.
You may have bruxism if:
You have been told you grind in your sleep
You catch yourself clenching during the day
Your teeth look worn, flat or chipped
Your jaw aches or feels tight, often in the morning
You get headaches around the temples
Your teeth have become sensitive
What can drive it:
Stress and tension
How your teeth meet, your bite
Sleep patterns and quality
Lifestyle, such as caffeine, alcohol and smoking
Some medicines, as a side effect
Sometimes no clear cause at all
Book your appointment
New patient examination £92
We start with an examination to look at the wear and the likely causes. Including any X-rays you need.
About your sleep, your stress levels, any medicines you take, and what a partner may have noticed. This is the part that helps us understand the cause.
02
We check for the signs
Wear on your teeth, tenderness in the jaw muscles, how your teeth meet, and any sensitivity. Digital X-rays if we need them, with far less radiation than film.
03
We show you what we found
On screen with photos where we can, so you can see the wear and understand the pattern rather than take our word for it.
04
A written plan and a price
Usually protecting your teeth with a custom night guard, plus advice on the triggers we can see. We set out what each option costs. Nothing is booked until you have had a think.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
It is the clinical name for grinding and clenching your teeth. It covers both, whether you do it in your sleep or awake during the day. If you have looked up "teeth grinding", it is the same thing. See our Teeth Grinding page.
Sleep bruxism is grinding or clenching while you sleep, which you usually do not know you are doing. Awake bruxism is more about clenching or holding your teeth tight during the day, often when you are focused or stressed. Some people have both.
Often a mix of things rather than one cause. Stress and tension are common, and how your teeth meet, your sleep and your lifestyle can all play a part. Some medicines list it as a side effect. We are honest that it is not fully understood, so we look at the whole picture.
Mostly from the signs it leaves. We look for wear on your teeth, tenderness in the jaw muscles, and how your teeth meet, and we ask about your sleep, stress and any partner has noticed. There is no single test, so we build up a picture.
We are straight about this. There is no simple cure, because the causes are not fully understood and often sit with stress and sleep. What we can do is protect your teeth from the damage and ease the strain on your jaw, usually with a custom night guard, while you work on any triggers.
It can be. Bruxism often goes hand in hand with jaw ache and jaw joint trouble, which you can read about on our Jaw Pain and TMD Treatment pages. If it seems tied to a sleep problem, that is one for your GP, and we will say so.
Yes. Tell us when you book. We allow longer appointments so nothing is rushed, we use The Wand for almost pain-free injections if any are needed, and you can bring someone in with you or hold a nurse's hand.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
