Researchers from the University of Florida have developed a smart mouth guard, which is embedded with sensors that monitor teeth grinding.

University of Florida Associate Professor Yong-Kyu “YK” Yoon, who created the offering, said in a statement that he first came up with the idea about five years ago when he was developing a set of dentures that would alert a dentist if dentures had an improper fit, even if the patient hadn't complained about it.

This experience led him to develop a similar tool that could help an even larger patient population – people who have bruxism, or teeth grinding. Bruxism, which can lead to damaged teeth, headaches, insomnia, and a sore jaw, affects 20 percent of the US population, around 30 million people.

The mouth guard prototype will be able to send data it collects to a dentist or orthodontist's smartphone or computer via Bluetooth. The provider can then track the user's habits, including how much force is being applied to the teeth, make a diagnosis, and suggest a treatment.

"Wearing a mouth guard is less intrusive than spending time in a sleep clinic,” Fong Wong, an associate professor in UF’s Restorative Dental Sciences Department and Craniofacial Center who also worked on the project, said in a statement. “It cuts costs when it reduces the number of clinical psychology sessions.”

Researchers explained that they are currently working on another version of the device, with different sensors, that would be designed for athletes. That version would be able to identify if an athlete is dehydrated. It could also detect whether the user was overheated based on their core body temperature; or detect a concussion based on the strength of a blow to the head.