Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Teeth-Grinding
Constant teeth-grinding, or bruxism, isn’t something that everyone has to deal with. For many people, it only occurs as a nervous tic or as a reaction to heightened stress. For others, however, it might be the telltale sign of bruxism – a condition that causes you to unconsciously grind your teeth together. At our Cleveland, TX, dental office, we can help you determine if you should take your teeth-grinding more seriously, and whether you need treatment to protect your smile from further complications.
It might not just be a habit
Bruxism is often described as a teeth-grinding habit, which may only be partly accurate. It’s habitual in that it occurs frequently and, quite often, before you even realize it. However, bruxism is more than that; it’s a condition that can be the result of several different concerns with your oral health and/or bite function. If not taken seriously, your bruxism could become the basis of more complicated concerns with your teeth and smile, and by the time you seek treatment for it, you may need to address multiple issues.
It isn’t something you can control on your own
In addition to having an underlying cause, bruxism differs from actual habits in several other important ways. For instance, unlike an actual habit, you can’t simply decide that you want to stop grinding your teeth. It isn’t a matter of willpower, and for many patients, it can occur more frequently during sleep. The longer you believe it’s controllable, the longer your bruxism will remain untreated, which means the greater the damage it can cause to your tooth structure.
It can do more damage than you realize
Patients who have bruxism but put off treating it until later are often surprised by the extent of damage their condition has caused. The force of your biting and chewing can be immense when you aren’t consciously controlling it, which can quickly wear down your teeth’s surfaces and make them structurally weaker. In addition to tooth wear, you might also experience one or more cracked or broken teeth, or damage to one or both of your jaw joints (TMJs).
Learn how to stop teeth-grinding
Teeth-grinding on a consistent basis can mean trouble for your teeth and oral health. To learn more about how we can help you treat your bruxism, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We proudly serve patients and their families from Cleveland, Kingwood, New Caney, Conroe, Livingston, Huffman, and all surrounding communities.