If you have issues with chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, this could cause discomfort and even damage your teeth. To help bring relief and keep your smile free of wear and tear, we could offer a night guard. In today’s blog, your Cerritos, CA, dentist talks about stopping teeth grinding with a custom night guard.
The Causes of Chronic Teeth Grinding
If you grind your teeth on a nightly basis, your significant other may let you know. But there are also symptoms that could occur during your waking hours, such as pain in the face or jaw, headaches and migraines, toothaches and tooth sensitivity, and even pain in the neck and shoulders. When these symptoms occur, let us know. Bruxism could be the result of strain on your bite balance, such as untreated TMJ disorder, missing teeth, misalignment, injuries, or even issues with the eruption of the teeth or the growth of the jaw. High stress levels in your daily life could be a factor too! We will assess the causes when we examine your smile, so we can decide if a bruxism appliance is the right solution for you!
How Bruxism Damages Smiles
When you grind and clench your teeth so frequently, this pressure could wear down the teeth and even crack or cup them, so your smile’s appearance changes in negative ways, and the risk of tooth decay and infection grows, as the sensitive portions of the tooth’s inner structures are then exposed to bacteria. This could lead to painful toothaches, and the risk of eventual infection and possibly tooth loss in the future. But our team can help, so see us right away when you suffer from persistent pain in your smile. With digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, we can examine the smile for signs of wear and friction, and assess any decay or infection that has occurred, so we can plan treatment and relief!
Treatment with a Night Guard
If we find that a night guard is the best choice for you, we will then take images and impressions of your bite with digital imaging technology, using these in a lab setting to design and craft your new appliance. The device will look and fit like a simple mouthguard, and is custom-fitted for you. When worn at night, this helps reposition the jaw to ease any underlying strain on your bite, and also puts a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. The appliance itself is soft, comfortable, and easy to clean and use.
If you have any questions about improving smiles and preventing discomfort with a bruxism appliance, then reach out to our team today.
TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT TEETH GRINDING
To schedule a consultation to stop chronic teeth grinding, make an appointment with Cerritos Dental Surgery in California call 562-584-4082 today.
