Can Teeth Grinding Change Your Face Shape | Bruxism Guide
You might not notice it right away, but one day you catch your reflection and think — was my face always like this? At first, it's easy to blame it on how you slept or maybe forgetting to wear your retainer for a few days. But what if there's something else behind it?
Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) doesn't just damage your teeth — it can also, over time, subtly change the shape of your face.
In this blog, we'll look at how certain oral appliances can affect your face, what teeth grinding does to your features, and the simple ways you can manage it.
📑 Table of Contents
Can Dental Appliances Change Your Face Shape?
While there are many different types of oral appliances, only a few are associated with changes in facial structure. Here, we'll focus on orthodontic braces, dental retainers, and night guards.
Orthodontic Braces (The Smile Changer)
Dental Retainers (The Results Keeper)
Teeth can sometimes drift back — that's why retainers are so important. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, their main role is to keep your teeth in the positions achieved by braces. The three most common types of retainers are clear, Hawley, and permanent. Unlike braces, retainers don't actively change the shape of your face or move teeth. However, neglecting to wear them can undo the results of your braces over time, which may eventually affect both your smile and facial proportions.
Retainer doesn't fit like it used to? Check out the most common reasons here: Why Retainers Stop Fitting: What Causes It and How to Fix It
Dental Night Guards (The Damage Control)
Braces and retainers improve your teeth, but night guards are different — they're all about protection. Also called mouthguards or occlusal splints, night guards shield your teeth from grinding (bruxism), sleep apnea, and TMJ. They cushion your teeth to prevent damage, like chips, cracks, or jaw pain. While night guards don't directly change your face shape, untreated bruxism over time can subtly alter your jaw and facial structure.
How Teeth Grinding Can Change Your Face Shape
According to the Mayo Clinic, teeth grinding or clenching — known as bruxism — happens when your upper and lower teeth rub against each other, sometimes making a sound like chewing ice. It can strike during the day (awake bruxism) or while you sleep (sleep bruxism), and things like stress, age, certain medications, and other health conditions can make it more likely to happen.
Here are the main ways bruxism can gradually affect your facial features:
Enlargement of Masseter Muscle
Constant teeth grinding, especially when left unprotected, can lead to more than just jaw pain and headaches. Over time, bruxism can even subtly affect the shape of your face. This happens because your jaw muscles — especially the masseter — get overworked from all that grinding and clenching. As a result, the muscle can enlarge, a condition known as hypertrophy. Studies have linked this enlargement to habits like chewing gum, clenching, and teeth grinding.
Facial Asymmetry from Uneven Grinding
Perfect facial symmetry is actually pretty rare. According to Medical News Today, most people have small differences in the way their face is shaped, including their teeth alignment and jaw structure. For those who grind their teeth, this natural imbalance can become more noticeable over time, especially if one side of the jaw bears the grunt of the grinding.
Tooth Wear and Damage
Aside from the rare possibility of masseter muscle enlargement, bruxism can also take a toll on your teeth. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it may cause symptoms such as chipped or cracked teeth, increased tooth sensitivity, enamel erosion, and flattening of the chewing surfaces. These issues may start small, but over time they can lead to infections, costly dental treatments, and subtle changes in your facial outlines.
Can You Reverse Changes to Your Face Shape from Bruxism?
1. Muscle Relaxation for Bruxism and Jaw Tension
Because bruxism overworks your jaw muscles, it can leave your jaw feeling tight and sore. The good news? A few easy exercises can help ease that tightness in your cheeks, jaw, and neck such as:
- Cheek Raise Exercise
- Jawline Push
- Symmetry Face Yoga
- Tongue Press Exercise
- Neck Stretch
Did you know stress can make jaw and facial tension worse? Here are some simple stress-relief techniques to help ease it: Seven Hacks For Managing Stress (And Bruxism, Too)
2. Night Guards to Protect Your Face from Teeth Grinding
While night guards may not reverse facial asymmetry caused by bruxism, they are still essential for protecting your teeth during grinding or clenching episodes. Among the different types available, custom-made options offer the best protection and fit, making them more comfortable to wear. This added comfort encourages consistent use, which helps reduce the long-term effects of teeth grinding on your jaw and face shape.
3. Botox for Jaw Changes from Bruxism
The Mayo Clinic explains that Botox injections use muscle-suppressing toxins to treat wrinkles, neck cramps, excessive sweating, and other conditions. For people with bruxism, Botox can help relax exhausted jaw muscles, which may slightly reduce their prominence and prevent further changes to your facial contours.
4. Dental Corrections to Improve Bite and Face Shape
If your teeth alignment is noticeably affecting your face shape, a dentist might suggest orthodontic braces. Issues like overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites can all contribute. In other cases, your dentist might need to pull out a tooth to avoid overcrowding.
5. Retainers to Maintain Teeth Alignment and Facial Balance
Wearing an effective retainer after your braces treatment is important for keeping your teeth in their new positions. It's important to wear them every day for 4-12 months, and then nightly after that period. Staying consistent would help maintain your corrected bite, lessening one of the few contributors of facial asymmetry.
Want to learn more about the benefits of wearing an effective retainer? Find out here: What Do Retainers Do? Find out With ClearClub
Protect Your Teeth and Facial Structure Today
Your teeth and facial features don't have to suffer from grinding and clenching. By wearing a well-fitted custom night guard and staying consistent with your retainer, you can protect your teeth and reduce the risk of your bite shifting over time. ClearClub has clear, color, and multi-color night guards, as well as clear retainers designed to help maintain your smile.
Enjoyed your first experience? Consider our subscription plan to get fresh replacements at your preferred monthly interval. Give your smile the protection it deserves — start today with ClearClub!
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can teeth grinding really change your face shape?
Yes, chronic teeth grinding (bruxism) can overwork your jaw muscles and damage your teeth, which may subtly alter your face shape, especially if one side of your jaw is more affected.
❓ Can a night guard reduce facial asymmetry caused by bruxism?
A night guard cannot directly reverse facial asymmetry. However, it protects your teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism, such as chipped or cracked teeth, increased tooth sensitivity, enamel erosion, and flattened chewing surfaces. If left unmanaged, these dental issues can worsen over time and indirectly affect your facial structure.
❓ Are there exercises to help with bruxism or jaw tension?
Yes, there are several exercises that can help relieve tension in your jaw muscles caused by teeth grinding and clenching. These include cheek raises, jawline presses, face yoga for symmetry, tongue presses, and neck stretches. Reducing stress is also important, as it’s one of the most common triggers of bruxism.
Looking for something else? Check our full FAQs section.