If you grind your teeth or clench them on a nightly basis, this could do much more than just irritate your significant other. You may also risk damaging your smile, which could lead to the onset of tooth decay and dental infection. In today’s blog, your Richfield, MN, dentist will discuss how we treat bruxism with a custom mouthguard.
The Causes and Dangers of Bruxism
Bruxism is a disorder in which a person grinds or clenches his or her teeth on an almost nightly basis. This could be caused by issues that upset the balance of your bite, such as injury to the face or jaw, tooth loss, misalignment, or malocclusion. High levels of stress in your daily life could also be a factor. Without treatment, this could place serious pressure on your teeth, eventually wearing down enamel or even cracking for chipping a tooth. This then exposes sensitive inner tissues to harmful oral bacteria, leading to the onset of tooth decay and even dental infection. Treating teeth grinding is essential for protecting your smile’s stability.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
Warning signs could include headaches, jaw pain, facial aches, or tooth sensitivity and toothaches. When you experience these warning signs, or someone lets you know that you grind your teeth, then let us know right away. We will assess the cause and severity of your bruxism with a thorough examination using digital x-rays and intraoral camera images. Treatment could include orthodontics to correct misalignment or restorations to promote better bite balance.
But oral appliance therapy is often the most prescribed solution! After we take digital images and measurements of your smile, we will use this information in a lab setting to design and craft an oral appliance. The custom-made device will fit like a mouthguard and help reposition the jaw to stop teeth grinding. This also prevents further damage since it places a barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth.
Other Helpful Tips
You can also ease pressure with a warm washcloth to the side of the face. Taking an over-the-counter medication can help as well. Try to avoid hard or chewy foods, as the actions necessary to consume them could exacerbate symptoms. Cutting back on caffeine can be helpful too! If you have any questions about diagnosing and treating an issue like teeth grinding, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a healthy, comfortable smile in 2022!
Do You Grind Your Teeth?
We want to help prevent damaged teeth that could follow untreated teeth grinding. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact your Richfield, MN, dentist, Dr. Keller, by calling (612) 861-7188.
