Your teeth face plenty of dangers every day, such as the oral bacteria that accumulate on them. Fortunately, when healthy, they’re strong enough to withstand most of those dangers and remain strong and healthy against them. However, there are some things you can only protect your teeth from by preventing them occurring at all. For instance, the excessive pressure and friction of your teeth grinding against each other can pose a serious threat to their health and integrity. At our Southlake, TX, dental office, we can help you protect your smile from bruxism by preventing your teeth from grinding against each other constantly.
What it means to have bruxism
Bruxism, or chronic teeth-grinding, can occur for a number of different reasons, which can differ for everyone who experiences it. While the causes may differ, the condition is the same – you’ll consistently grind your teeth together, often without realizing it (even while you sleep at night). This grinding habit can cause your teeth’s chewing surfaces to wear down over time, changing the way your bite functions and making your teeth more susceptible to damage, decay, and more. Though you may not always realize when you grind your teeth, your dentist can notice the signs during your routine checkup and cleaning appointments, and recommend appropriate treatment to protect your smile.
The symptoms of chronic teeth-grinding
The change to your teeth’s chewing surface may occur over time, but there are other symptoms of bruxism that can warn you of its presence earlier. For instance, due to the pressure and friction of grinding your teeth together, you may notice your teeth becoming increasingly more sensitive, or that your jaw muscles seem to get tired and uncomfortable during the day. Other symptoms can include chronic headaches and migraines, ringing n your ears, and more, all of which will grow worse until your dentist addresses your bruxism.
How to treat it and save your teeth
The specific treatment for bruxism depends on several factors, including its specific cause and the extent of damage that your teeth have already experienced (if any). For many patients, however, treatment includes the use of a custom-designed oral appliance, or nightguard, which you can wear comfortably over your teeth while you sleep. Because many people with bruxism grind their teeth most often at night, a guard can help prevent the damage that the condition can cause to your healthy, natural tooth structure.
Treat bruxism and stop excessive tooth wear
If your teeth are starting to wear down, then bruxism might be the reason why. To learn more about we can treat your bruxism to help you stop grinding your teeth, 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.
