With most habits, you’re consciously aware of them. Not so with tooth grinding, which happens when you’re asleep. In fact, the best way to detect whether you’re one of the 30 million Americans who grinds their teeth—which can cause tooth damage, headaches, and jaw pain—is to enter a sleep clinic overnight. And we don’t blame you if that’s not on the top of your to-do list…

But that may all soon change: A new Bluetooth®technology mouth guard lets you know whether you’re grinding your teeth at night—and can even stop you from doing it. Equipped with sensors that measure how much force the jaw is exerting and which teeth are being affected, the device communicates with an app via Bluetooth. Your dentist can then use this information to determine the right treatment plan.

“Wearing a mouth guard is less intrusive than spending time in a clinic,” say the University of Florida researchers who created the device. “It’s an improvement over traditional bruxism therapies, such as behavioral modification training during clinical sessions. The guard also extends the treatment beyond the time spent in the clinic, which promises greater effectiveness and lower cost.”

The researchers are also looking into using the mouth guard to help detect dangerous body conditions—such as overheating or concussions—in athletes or those who work in extreme situations, such as firefighters. Definitely something to chew on!

(Credit: Nanci Taplett)