If you have bruxism, this means chronic teeth grinding and pressure on your bite. This could wear down your teeth and leave them vulnerable to tooth decay and infection! But we can help with a holistic and comfortable approach. In today’s blog, Lake Orion Family Dentistry talks about how we diagnose and treat bruxism!
The Causes and Dangers of Teeth Grinding
What causes someone to grind their teeth on a nightly basis? For some, this could be due to stress in your daily life. For others, this could be due to untreated TMJ disorder or even factors that upset bite balance, such as missing teeth, misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or concern with the eruption of your teeth or the growth of your jaw. The arrival of your wisdom teeth could also be a factor.
Without treatment, the contact pressure on your bite could begin to chip and crack teeth, or even wear them down so they appear shorter. This also exposes the sensitive inner structures to harmful bacteria, which increases the risk of tooth decay and infection! Which is why you should see us at the first signs of bruxism.
Common Bruxism Symptoms
What symptoms should you be aware of? People with bruxism may encounter tooth sensitivity when they eat or drink, or toothaches that grow in severity with time. There could be aches in the face or jaw, or persistent headaches and jaw pain. If you have regular pain in and around your mouth, then contact our team for a diagnosis. We will examine your smile with digital imaging to assess the presence, cause, and severity of bruxism, so we can choose the best solution. With an oral appliance, we can offer care that is custom and comfortable.
Helping with an Oral Appliance
Our team will take digital images and measurements of your bite, which we then use to design and craft an oral appliance that you can wear at night. The appliance is worn like a mouthguard, but once in place this actually helps reposition the jaw to ease the stress on your jaw joints, which can alleviate symptoms. The appliance also puts a very soft barrier between the sets of upper and lower sets of teeth, which then prevents further injury too. The appliance is easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you during your summer vacation!
If you have any questions about how we treat teeth grinding, then contact our team today to learn more and get started.
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Provides Teeth Grinding Treatment
Our team wants to offer a way to treat grinding/clenching and protect your smile! To find out more about preventive dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
