Are There Any Real Threats Involved with Teeth-Grinding?


Are There Any Real Threats Involved with Teeth-Grinding?

By Wright Smiles

When you first develop bruxism, it might not seem like much of a problem. Part of that may be because you don’t notice that you grind your teeth all the time, especially if you have nighttime bruxism. Another reason may be that the consequences of bruxism often don’t become obvious until serious tooth damage has occurred. At our Southlake, TX, dentist’s office, we can help you diagnose and treat your bruxism to help you stop teeth-grinding and restore your good oral health.

What happens when you ignore bruxism?

Bruxism is the chronic grinding of your teeth, a condition that occurs unconsciously and often while you sleep. It can occur for a variety of potential reasons, and when left unchecked, it can lead to a host of other chronic dental concerns. For example, the constant friction and pressure will wear down your teeth, starting on their chewing surfaces where they meet. This can change the balance in your bite, overtaxing your jaw joints and muscles until TMJ disorder develops. The longer you wait to treat your teeth-grinding habit, the more severe these effects can become.

How do you know if it’s a problem?

If you notice that you grind your teeth sometimes, or that your teeth feel increasingly more sensitive, then you might have bruxism. To find out for sure, you should schedule an examination with your dentist as soon as possible, even if it isn’t time for your routine checkup and cleaning yet. A thorough examination will help uncover any signs of tooth wear or damage that are not yet obvious, or an imbalance in your bite that could be causing you to grind your teeth.

What options do you have for treating it?

Once you know that you have bruxism and the cause behind it, we can develop an appropriate treatment plan according to your specific needs and preferences. For example, a custom-designed oral appliance, or nightguard, may help protect your teeth at night, when bruxism is often at its worst. If the cause is an imbalance in your bite, then we can custom-design an appropriate course of treatment to correct it and alleviate the underlying cause of your bruxism.

Find out if bruxism is threatening your smile

If you have bruxism, then ignoring it could leave your smile at a heightened risk of several different other concerns. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Gregory Wright, DDS in Southlake, TX today at (817) 481-7999. We also proudly serve patients who live in Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities.