Protecting the appearance and the health of your smile over the long-term can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task. Our Glendale dentists are here to help! We have seen, firsthand, just how damaging certain substances and habits can be for your smile over time. That is why today we are going to be talking about a specific chronic condition for which you should be on the lookout—bruxism.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the word that we use to refer to chronic dental grinding or tooth clenching. Bruxism can happen during the day, and it can also happen while the patient is asleep during the night. Unfortunately, long-term bruxism can cause your teeth to wear down, and your dental enamel to develop small cracks and chips.
How Does It Develop?
There are a number of potential root causes of bruxism. Stress, for example, can cause people to grind their teeth without even realizing it. Structural dental problems, too, can result in bruxism. When your top and bottom teeth do not come together evenly and naturally, you may slide your lower jaw back and forth in order to make your teeth “fit” together.
What Can I Do?
The first thing that you can do is to remember these common symptoms of bruxism:
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Frequent headaches
- Tooth pain
You may even catch yourself grinding your teeth during the day—be mindful of stopping this habit when you notice it!
If you do think that you are dealing with bruxism, then it is time to reach out to your dental team for an assessment. Timing is key—you don’t want to let bruxism persist untreated for long.
Professional treatments for bruxism are designed to:
- Repair damaged tooth structure
- Alleviate any TMJ dysfunction that leads to dental grinding
- Protect your natural teeth with custom-fit oral appliances
As you can see there are effective, patient-friendly bruxism solutions available to you. Please contact our Glendale dentists if you think you may be grinding your teeth and you’re ready to protect your smile. We look forward to speaking with you!