Bruxism, for many people, at first simply seems like a nuisance. However, in the broad scheme of things, dental grinding and clenching can actually be hugely damaging to a patient’s smile.
Whether you grind your teeth at night or during the day, bruxism can lead to a number of different oral health and aesthetic problems:
- Worn-down dental enamel
- Teeth that are prone to infections and damage
- Less luminous dental enamel
- Sore teeth
- Jaw pain and tightness
- TMJ deterioration over time
There are a couple of key things that our Glendale dentists keep in mind when helping patients manage bruxism.
- We’ll identify when you primarily clench and grind—at night or during the day? The clear signs of dental grinding at night include tooth soreness upon waking, as well as a stiff/sore jaw upon waking. Your sleeping partner may also be able to hear your teeth grinding back and forth.
- We’ll tease out the underlying cause of your bruxism habit. Some people, for example, exhibit bruxism tendencies only when they are stressed. Other people suffer from bruxism consistently due to poorly balanced and aligned bite surfaces.
- We’ll craft a treatment plan to help minimize the root cause of your bruxism issue. This may involve integrating stress-reduction exercises into your routine, and/or this may involve refining your bite surfaces.
- We’ll help you protect your enamel during times of dental grinding and clenching. Custom-fit mouthpieces, for example, protect your teeth from direct enamel-to-enamel contact.
No matter what your exact bruxism situation is, it is in your smile’s best interest for you to seek treatment for dental grinding as soon as you notice it. Prompt treatment can save your smile from years of health and aesthetic issues down the road. Call our Glendale dentists to get started!