If you grind or clench your teeth severely at night, this could lead to oral health complications and cause permanent damage. You may even be unaware of the habit that takes place while you are asleep. If not properly detected and addressed, wear and tear on your enamel can cause an uneven bite and increase the risk of tooth decay. Grinding, otherwise known as bruxism, exposes the insides of your tooth to harmful bacteria which could also cause an infection. This is why your Cerritos, CA dentist offers a simple nonsurgical solution. We can provide an oral guard to protect your teeth as you sleep and prevent damage from threatening your oral health!
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
Identifying the source of your bruxism can help you treat the damage to your smile. You may experience high levels of stress and anxiety that are associated with bruxism. Other potential causes include injuries that upset the balance of your bite like tooth loss or poor spacing of teeth. When you come in to discuss treating your grinding problem, we will carefully evaluate your mouth to determine the cause and full extent of the damage. We can counsel you on possible treatment for the root issue and provide a protective shield to prevent trauma to the teeth at night.
Using Your Oral Night Guard
We will provide you with a custom-designed oral night guard to help protect your teeth from grinding as you sleep. Because it is custom-fitted to your smile, your guard fits comfortably in your mouth before you go to bed. Made from a BPA-free material, the guard prevents grinding by separating each row of teeth from contacting one another. The appliance can also gently shift the alignment of your jaw at night to reduce any stress from a bite imbalance. This helps address headaches brought upon by stress to your jaw.
Repairing The Wear And Tear Of Teeth Grinding
When we provide treatment to prevent your bruxism, we can also provide cosmetic treatment to address existing damage to your teeth. If a missing tooth is causing your grinding, we can place a dental implant to restore a full set of teeth and properly align your bite. Bruxism patients also benefit from the placement of porcelain veneers to restore tooth height, cover chips and cracks, and return a bright white shade to their smile!
Speak With Your Cerritos, CA Dentist About Treating Teeth Grinding
Bruxism can harm your smile without you even knowing. Fortunately, nightly wearing of an oral guard can prevent additional damage to your teeth and relieve stress upon your jaw. To discuss how use of a guard provides useful protection, and to treat any existing damage from grinding, please call our Cerritos, CA dentist’s office at (562)-584-4082!
