Why TMJ Treatment Sometimes Reduces Nighttime Grinding - and Sometimes Doesn’t

Dr. Jon Mackey
28 minutes ago
3 min read

By Dr. Jon Mackey, Chiropractor at Umana Health (Etobicoke)

If you grind your teeth at night, you’ve probably wondered:

“Will TMJ treatment stop my grinding?”

It’s a great question - and the honest answer is:

sometimes it helps, and sometimes it doesn’t.

But even when grinding doesn’t fully stop, treatment can still make a big difference.

Here’s why.

First, what is nighttime grinding (bruxism)?

Nighttime grinding - also called sleep bruxism - isn’t just a jaw problem.

Current research suggests that bruxism is largely driven by the nervous system, especially how the brain responds to stress, sleep quality, and brief nighttime arousals.

It’s often influenced by things like:

Stress and mental load
Poor or disrupted sleep
Anxiety
Certain medications (including some antidepressants or stimulants)
Caffeine or alcohol intake
Life changes (new parents, busy work periods, etc.)

This is why grinding can show up even when the jaw itself looks “fine,” and why dental alignment alone rarely stops it.

So why does TMJ treatment help grinding for some people?

Even though grinding is centrally driven, jaw and neck treatment can still influence how intense or disruptive it feels.

TMJ-focused care may help by:

Reducing excessive muscle tension in the jaw (especially the masseters and pterygoids)
Calming sensitivity in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues
Improving jaw and neck coordination
Reducing headache and facial pain that often accompanies grinding
Improving overall comfort and sleep quality

For some people - especially those whose grinding is closely tied to stress or muscle overload - focused treatment can lead to:

Less intense grinding
Less jaw soreness in the morning
Fewer headaches
A feeling that the jaw “isn’t working as hard” overnight

In these cases, patients often say:

“I think I still grind, but it doesn’t bother me nearly as much.”

That’s a meaningful improvement.

Why doesn’t TMJ treatment stop grinding for everyone?

Because grinding isn’t caused by the jaw itself.

In many people, sleep bruxism is deeply ingrained and tied to how the nervous system cycles through sleep stages. Even if jaw pain improves, the grinding behaviour may continue.

This doesn’t mean treatment failed - it means we successfully treated the effects of grinding, not the underlying sleep behaviour.

In other words:

We can calm irritated tissues
Improve comfort and function
Reduce flare-ups… but we can’t always “switch off” a nervous system habit that happens unconsciously during sleep.

What’s the real goal of TMJ treatment if grinding continues?

The goal is management, not perfection.

Effective TMJ care aims to:

Reduce jaw pain and stiffness
Improve mouth opening and chewing comfort
Decrease headache frequency
Reduce muscle sensitivity
Help the jaw tolerate grinding better
Prevent flare-ups from escalating

For many patients, this dramatically improves quality of life - even if grinding doesn’t fully disappear.

What about night guards?

Night guards can be helpful, but it’s important to understand what they do (and don’t do).

✔️ They protect the teeth from wear and damage
✔️ They may slightly reduce muscle load for some people
❌ They usually do not stop grinding itself

This is why night guards are often most effective when combined with conservative TMJ and neck care - not used as a standalone “fix.”

How I usually explain this to patients

When patients ask, “Will this treatment fix my grinding?” I usually say something like:

“Grinding is more of a nervous system habit than a jaw problem. Treatment can calm your jaw, reduce pain, and make grinding less irritating - and some people do notice they grind less. But even if grinding doesn’t fully stop, improving how your jaw feels and functions is still a very positive outcome.”

This sets realistic expectations and keeps the focus on meaningful improvements.

The takeaway

If you grind your teeth at night:

TMJ treatment may reduce pain, tension, and morning soreness
It may or may not reduce the grinding behaviour itself
Even when grinding continues, most people feel significantly better

And that’s the outcome we’re aiming for.

If you’re dealing with jaw pain, headaches, or stiffness related to clenching or grinding, a focused TMJ assessment can help clarify what’s driving your symptoms and what can realistically help.

📍 TMJ assessment and treatment available at Umana Health (Etobicoke) - Dr. Jon Mackey, DC