It’s not uncommon for people to clench or grind their teeth now and then. However, if it becomes a frequent habit, especially during sleep, it could cause damage to your teeth. We invite you to learn more about tooth grinding so that you can prevent damage to your smile.
Harmful Effects of Bruxism
A habit of grinding your teeth at night, which is called bruxism, could cause you to experience immediate and obvious effects such as frequent headaches and jaw pain. This chronic grinding can also result in loose teeth, tooth fractures and tooth loss, as well as wear to your teeth and problems with your dental fillings and crowns. If the condition is not treated, you may even experience eventual bone loss in your jaw.
Unconscious Habits Are Complicated to Correct
A challenge for patients dealing with bruxism is that it often occurs while they are sleeping. This often results in the condition going undetected for weeks, months and even years. If you frequently wake up with a sore jaw or headaches, or have heard complaints from your loved about these symptoms, we encourage you to seek treatment. Prolonged grinding could result in worn teeth and inflamed gums.
Our Team Can Help
Our dentist at [practice_name] can diagnose bruxism and provide treatments to alleviate the problem. We offer a variety of options based on your specific circumstances. Those options may include using a custom night guard to cushion the teeth or having dental adjustments to improve the alignment of your teeth.
We can also discuss lifestyle changes such as stress reduction to ease your grinding so that you can have a better smile, as well as improved overall health. If you suspect that you are struggling with bruxism in [city], [state], we encourage you to call our office at [phone] for an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name].
