Teeth Grinding Could Injure Your Teeth
When we grind our teeth regularly, known as bruxism, this could cause discomfort in your face and jaw, and even damage your teeth! Which is why treatment is necessary to stop grinding and clenching. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about how to stop bruxism and repair your worn down or chipped teeth.
The Causes and Impacts of Untreated Bruxism
Bruxism occurs when factors upset overall bite balance and strain the jaw joints, such as missing teeth, malocclusion, injury to the face or jaw, untreated TMJ disorder, or complications with the growth and development of the jaw and oral structures. High levels of stress in your daily life could be a factor as well. When we grind and clench our teeth regularly, this could cause painful symptoms like headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial aches, and even toothaches and tooth sensitivity. In addition, the pressure could actually wear down teeth and crack or chip them, impacting esthetics and leading to decay and infection.
Easing Tension and Damage
To help ease tension and damage, be sure you avoid caffeinated products, or chewing on hard objects like pens, pencils, or ice. You can use a warm washcloth to ease tension by placing it against the side of the face, and also help control pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Trying to find ways to reduce your stress levels can help as well. But when you have the symptoms we discussed above, we urge you to see our team for a diagnosis. Using digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, we can identify the cause of your bruxism and assess the severity, so we can choose the most appropriate treatment option.
Treatment and Repaired Teeth
For some, we could correct misalignment with orthodontics, or for others treatment could include replacing missing teeth with a prosthetic, or improving bite balance with the placement of a crown or through bonding and contouring. But the most common solution is an oral appliance. Crafted by detailed digital images taken of your smile, the device will look and fit like a mouthguard. When in place, this repositions the jaw to ease symptoms, and provides a barrier between the teeth to prevent further damage. For worn down, cracked, or chipped teeth, we can provide repair with crowns, bonding, or contouring. If you have any questions, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Teeth Grinding?
We would like to help you find the best solution for your bruxism. If you have any questions about avoiding damage to your smile, or if you would like to schedule a consultation today, please contact Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, TX, at (281) 592-1234. You can also find our practice at 205 E. Houston St. Cleveland, TX 77327.