Our Toluca Lake dentists provide the treatments that people need to stay well for years to come. There are a number of chronic conditions that can damage your dental health; today our dental team is going to give you more information about one of these conditions: bruxism.
Read on to learn more about what bruxism is, and how you can protect your smile from bruxism-related damage.
So “bruxism” is a term that we use to describe chronic dental grinding and clenching. This behavior could occur during the day or at night while the patient is sleeping. If you suffer from bruxism, you may find that you clench your teeth together, or that you grind your teeth back and forth.
It is pretty easy to spot the signs of bruxism when they occur during the day. However, bruxism can be hard to diagnose if it manifests at night. So pay special attention if you are waking up with headaches or sore teeth, as these issues may be related to night-time dental grinding.
As you would imagine, chronic bruxism can wear down your dental enamel over time. If bruxism isn’t addressed in a timely manner, your smile may be at risk of developing dental cavities as well as cracks and chips in your enamel.
In order to protect your smile from the dangers of bruxism, you want to:
· Minimize the root causes of bruxism—this may mean implementing some stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine. It may also mean refining your bite surfaces or dental alignment, so that your top and bottom teeth come together comfortably.
· Protect your enamel from tooth-on-tooth contact. Your dentist may create a protective mouthpiece for you to wear at night, so that there is a buffer between your teeth when you grind or clench.
If you have questions about how our Toluca Lake dentists deal with bruxism, please feel free to call our team! We look forward to speaking with you!