In order to effectively care for your smile, you must take strides to practice a thorough preventive dental routine. After all, there are countless factors out there that threaten the integrity of your smile, but very few natural methods of protection. As such, we must step in and help as much as we can. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI dentist takes a look at nontraditional threats to your smile, including how untreated bruxism can lead to even bigger concerns down the line.
Increased Risk of Infection and Brittle Structures
It goes without saying that we endure a significant amount of wear and tear on our smiles throughout the courses of our lives. From tooth decay and gum disease to the foods we consume and the level of our preventive care, everything has an influence. What’s more? Nontraditional factors can also cause oral health complications, and one of the aggressors you might not have considered is chronic teeth grinding.
Indeed, chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, occurs when an individual clenches his or her teeth together tightly and proceeds to move the lower jaw from side to side. This process can occur consciously, but more often than not is a subconscious phenomenon.
When a person experiences bruxism, the consistent friction and pressure can actually cause structures to become more brittle, resulting in higher chances of cracking or chipping. Further, this leads to a heightened chance of developing some form of oral infection or disease as oral bacteria can more easily enter your teeth. To learn more about this process and how our team can help, contact us today.
Developing TMJ Disorder
Another major concern that arises from untreated teeth grinding includes developing a dangerous jaw dysfunction. When your lower mandible becomes misaligned from one or both of your temporomandibular joints (TMJs), the subsequent result is TMJ disorder. Individuals who experience this phenomenon may endure a noticeable popping or clicking sensation in the jaw, difficulties opening the mouth completely, and even significant tissue damage. In other words, treatment is better sought sooner rather than later, and our team is ready to help. Give us a call today to learn more.
Ways Our Team Can Help
Though chronic teeth grinding and TMJ disorder are unfavorable to experience, they are not permanent and can be treated with effective care. Indeed, an oral appliance can be used to open the airway and protect your teeth from damage at night, while guided splint therapy can help carefully guide your jaw back into place, thus alleviating symptoms.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
TMJ disorder and bruxism are not situations to take lightly, and we are ready to help however we can. Contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI by calling 248-693-6213 to learn more and schedule your next appointment with our team today.
