Bruxism refers to chronic teeth grinding, a disorder that can impact adults and cause damage to the teeth. Your smile is then more likely to develop tooth decay and even dental infection! But we can help. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about helping you avoid damage and discomfort from teeth grinding.
The Causes of Chronic Teeth Grinding
Why do some of us develop chronic teeth grinding? Bruxism can occur due to imbalance in your bite, which strains your jaw joints. This imbalance could include untreated TMJ disorder, malocclusion caused by misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or issues with how the teeth erupt or the jaw develops. If your wisdom teeth arrive, this could be a factor. For others, high levels of stress in daily life could be a potential cause. When we examine your smile and analyze the wear and friction on your teeth, we will assess the cause of your bruxism, which is crucial for choosing the perfect treatment option!
Common Bruxism Warning Signs
For some people who grind their teeth, a significant other will let them know about teeth grinding episodes. However, there are other symptoms that occur during your waking hours. For example, you could experience pain in the jaw or face, chronic headaches or migraines, or toothaches and tooth sensitivity. When you have pain in and around your smile on a regular basis, don’t ignore these potential symptoms. Instead, reach out to our team to talk about possible solutions. We want to help you find relief and avoid worsening damage to your teeth. Otherwise, as the disorder wears down enamel and damages teeth, this can alter your smile’s appearance and increase the risk of tooth decay and infection!
Relieving Your Strain and Discomfort
For some, we can suggest cutting back on caffeine, avoiding hard or chewy foods, and cutting back on stress on their daily lives. For people with misalignment, we could recommend orthodontic treatment to correct uneven teeth and improve bite balance. Bonding or crowns could be used to alter the shape of the teeth and improve overall balance. We could also take on tooth loss with bridges or even dental implants.
But for most we offer relief with an oral appliance. The device is custom-made and fitted for your smile, and looks like a simple mouthguard. When worn during sleep the device actually repositions the jaw to ease underlying stress and strain, so you avoid painful symptoms and discomfort. The device also places a barrier that sits between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which decreases the risk of damaged teeth. The device is simple to use, easy to clean, and can go on the road with you too!
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like bruxism with an oral appliance, then contact our team today!
Learn More About Treating Bruxism
With a comfortable and noninvasive solution, we can put a stop to chronic teeth grinding. When you are ready to schedule your appointment and avoid the damages of untreated teeth grinding, then contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111.
