Jaw pain · clicking · grinding

Jaw ache, clicking, morning headaches — you don’t have to just live with it.

If you wake with a tight jaw or a dull headache, catch yourself clenching at a screen, or your jaw clicks when you yawn — that’s usually your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles around it working overtime. It’s one of the most common problems we see, and one of the most treatable.

Sound familiar?

  • Jaw ache or tiredness, worst in the morning
  • Clicking, popping or grinding sounds when you chew or yawn
  • Headaches around the temples; ear ache with a healthy ear
  • Teeth that look flatter, chipped or worn — or a partner who hears you grinding at night
  • A jaw that occasionally locks or won’t open fully

Most of it traces back to clenching and grinding (bruxism) — often stress-driven, usually while you sleep, so you can’t simply decide to stop.

How we treat it

1. A custom night guard — £150

A precisely-fitted guard (sometimes called a bite splint) worn at night. It cushions the joint, protects your teeth from grinding damage, and lets the overworked muscles switch off. Made by any of our dentists from a quick scan — it’s the first-line treatment and for many people it’s all that’s needed.

2. Muscle-relaxing treatment with Savan Zala

For persistent or severe cases, Savan offers a prescription muscle-relaxing treatment that calms the overactive jaw muscles directly — many patients notice the ache and morning headaches ease within weeks. Because it’s a prescription-only treatment, it always starts with a consultation where Savan examines your jaw and tells you honestly whether it’s right for you — or whether a night guard alone will do the job.

3. Repairing the damage

Years of grinding can leave teeth short, flat or cracked. Once the cause is controlled, we can rebuild worn teeth with composite or crowns — but controlling the grinding comes first, or the repairs wear away too.

Fed up with jaw pain?

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★★★★★

“Lovely staff! First came here and was extremely nervous about going to the dentist but Tim and Georgia put me right at ease! Honestly cannot recommend them enough.”

Ellie J. · Google review · one of 500+ five-star reviews

Two ways this goes

✓ You get it looked at

A £150 night guard, honest advice, and Savan’s help if it’s persistent. The morning headaches fade — and your enamel stays where it is.

You wait it out

The grinding carries on every night, silently flattening your teeth. Rebuilding worn teeth costs many times more than a night guard — and the ache stays.

Questions people ask us

Is jaw clicking serious?
Painless clicking on its own is common and often needs no treatment. Clicking with pain, locking, or grinding damage is your cue to get it looked at — earlier is easier.
Will it go away on its own?
Flare-ups sometimes settle, especially when a stressful period passes. But grinding quietly wears your teeth the whole time — enamel doesn’t grow back, which is why we protect first and repair second.
How does a night guard actually help?
It stops tooth-on-tooth wear, spreads the clenching forces, and changes the muscle pattern that keeps the joint irritated. Most people adapt to wearing one within a week.
What is the muscle-relaxing treatment?
A prescription treatment, placed precisely into the overworked jaw muscles, that reduces their ability to clench with full force — the muscles get a rest, and the pain cycle is broken. It’s prescription-only, so Savan assesses you at a consultation first and will only recommend it if it’s genuinely the right option for you.
Whom will I see?
Any of our dentists can examine your jaw and make you a night guard. Persistent cases go to Savan Zala, who has a special interest in treating TMJ disorder.

Book an examination online →

Related: emergency dentist · repairing worn teeth · nervous patients