BEST DENTIST IN AMINJIKARAI! Teeth grinding is another issue that can affect our teeth at night. The technical term is bruxism. Nighttime teeth grinding can cause premature wear to your teeth, damaging the enamel coating. Some researchers believe that teeth grinding is a reflex designed to move the jaw forward to increase airflow. The most common treatment option is to wear a mouth guard or bite splint that can prevent the upper and lower jaw from contact.