Do you find your jawbone to feel tense at times? Have you ever heard clicking noises when adjusting your mouth? Do you feel sensitive in certain areas of your smile? These are just a few signs that you may be dealing with tooth grinding or TMJ disorder. While these are both common dental problems, they must be addressed and treated early on. At Cedar West Dental Richfield, MN, we can offer our patients custom-made mouthguards to help with their bruxism and TMJ.
TMJ And Bruxism Go Hand In Hand
These are two different conditions, but they are often found to be linked together. TMJ – temporomandibular joint – dysfunction can be caused by genetics, jaw clenching, malocclusion, and other factors. Bruxism is the unconscious tendency to clench the jaws together or grind the teeth against each other. This can be caused by several factors such as age, genetics, stress level, and more.
If left untreated, these can lead to several negative side effects. You may begin to experience extreme pain in the jaw and mouth. If you find yourself waking up with headaches and poor rest after a night of sleep, this is a common indicator that this is a severe problem.
Damage To Your Dental Health
Regarding dental concerns, these problems can lead to the weakening of the enamel and wearing down your teeth. Having a weakened enamel can put you at higher risk for cavities and losing teeth while having your teeth slowly worn down can harm your gum line and jaw line, as well as tooth sensitivity that can make daily activities like eating difficult. If preventive measures are not taken early enough, you may need to go through more invasive procedures to repair these problems in the future.
How We Can Help You
You may be wondering how you can fix a problem you are doing without meaning to. This can be a hard habit to break, but it is not impossible, especially with the help of a custom-fit oral appliance. A mouthguard can be crafted to your exact needs.
For bruxism, the mouthguard will be inserted every night when you sleep. This will look similar to an orthodontic retainer and help keep your teeth from brushing against each other. For those with TMJ, this helps by supporting the jaw bones better and alleviating stress. Over time, you should be able to feel a positive difference.
Start Your Treatment Today!
Ask Dr. Keller if custom bruxism and/or TMJ treatment can help you find relief. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keller and our team, call Cedar West Family Dentistry in Richfield, MN, today at (612) 861-7188.
