If you have bruxism, then that means you grind your teeth or clench your jaw on a regular basis, two habits that could damage them and lead to serious oral health trouble. But what causes a person to grind his or her teeth? What treatments can help us stop? In today’s blog, your Tucson, AZ, dentist looks at the causes of teeth grinding and discusses possible solutions.
Factors Behind Your Bruxism
A number of different factors could cause someone to develop bruxism, such as bite imbalance, dental misalignment, tooth loss, or injury to the face and mouth. High levels of anxiety could also contribute, as could untreated TMJ disorder, an issue that occurs when the jaw joints are under extreme stress. When we examine your smile, we look at the wear and friction on your teeth to help identify the factors behind your teeth grinding, allowing us to choose the most optimal treatment option. Warning signs include jaw pain, facial aches, discomfort in the neck and shoulders, toothaches and tooth sensitivity, and headaches and migraines. If you begin to experience one or more of these, then please contact our team today to seek treatment.
Long Term Dangers
The pressure from grinding and clenching your teeth could begin to weaken tooth enamel, cracking or chipping teeth. They could even begin to look small as the structure is continuously worn away. Over time, this damage exposes the dentin, a sensitive layer of tooth structure, to harmful bacteria. A cavity could form or even dental infection, causing more discomfort and leading to a greater risk of tooth loss. To prevent gaps in your smile and oral health issues that could threaten your smile, you should seek treatment as soon as you notice discomfort.
How Do I Stop?
For some, we could use orthodontics like clear aligners to correct misalignment, easing bite balance in the process. Others may benefit from crowns or other restorations. However, most wear an oral appliance as they sleep. The device will look like a mouthguard and will be created based on detailed impressions we take of your smile. When worn the device helps correct bite balance and ease pressure on the jaw joints. The appliance also provides a barrier between your sets of teeth, which prevents further damage. If you have any questions about treating teeth grinding, or if you would like to discuss repairing teeth that have become worn down or managed, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Preventive Dentistry?
At our Tucson, AZ, dentist’s office, we don’t want teeth grinding to damage and compromised your smile’s health and beauty. If you have questions about preventive dental care, contact us today to schedule a visit by calling our office at 520-296-5439.