How do you support the health of your mouth while you sleep? If you suspect you are grinding and clenching your teeth at night, let your dentist know. Left untreated, this problem can wear away your enamel and cause an uneven bite. This can increase your risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and lead to complications with the health of your jaw. Otherwise known as bruxism, grinding your teeth can give you a prematurely aged appearance as loss of enamel leaves a discolored worn down look.
Fortunately, your Cerritos, CA dentist can evaluate your bite for the signs of bruxism and offer a treatment to protect your teeth while you sleep. By wearing an oral guard, you can separate each row of teeth and relieve pressure on your jaw from constant clenching. Once we stop the progression of your habit, we can discuss cosmetic procedures to return your beautiful smile!
Damage From Grinding Your Teeth
When you grind your teeth at night, hundreds of pounds of force wear away at their surface. This can lead to significant damage as the pressure is much greater than your normal bite when you are awake. You may wake up with chipped or cracked teeth from time to time or feel your bite becoming misaligned. As your enamel wears, tooth decay can more easily cause cavities as you lose your outside protective layer. This is why we recommend letting your dentist know so we may procure treatment.
Wearing Your Oral Guard At Night
After detecting the signs of bruxism, we can give you an appliance that protects each row of teeth from one another. Made from a BPA-free material, an oral guard prevents your teeth from grinding when worn at night. If you experience aches in your facial muscles or jaw, this treatment provides relief as well.
Cosmetic Treatment For Worn Teeth
Once we stop the ongoing wear and tear from nightly grinding, we can discuss cosmetic options to return your smile’s appearance. We can place a set of porcelain veneers to treat chips and cracks to the surface of your teeth. Made from a thin layer of porcelain, each veneer is created according to your desired shape and shade. This allows us to return worn down height to your teeth and address issues with discoloration. We can also explore ceramic crowns for teeth that are severely damaged.
Talk To Your Cerritos, CA Dentist About Wearing An Oral Guard
Grinding your teeth at night can damage your appearance and threaten your oral health. By wearing an oral guard at night, you can prevent dental wear and tear and relieve stress upon your jaw. To discuss receiving an oral guard, and to treat existing damage from bruxism, please call your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office at (562)-584-4082!
