If you catch yourself grinding your teeth all the time, it may not be long before you start to wonder why. For many people, there is no obvious answer; at least, not until they visit their dentist and find out for sure. At our Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office, we can help you find out if and why you grind your teeth too much, and help you stop before you cause significant damage to your teeth and oral health.
A brief glimpse at bruxism
The official name for chronic teeth-grinding is bruxism, and it’s a condition that can lead to consistent, unconscious teeth-grinding at any time of the day. In fact, many patients experience symptoms more intensely when they sleep at night. Because bruxism is an unconscious condition, the force with which you grind your teeth together can be incredible. This means your teeth are likely to wear down, become weaker, and possibly even chip or break if you don’t seek treatment for your bruxism promptly.
What causes bruxism to occur?
There are many different potential reasons for patients to develop bruxism. For example, if your teeth are crooked, then your jaw may have trouble staying straight when you bite and chew. This can stress your jaw joints and muscles out until they can no longer rest comfortably. Your jaw might spasm and force your teeth to grind together, or the grinding may be a result of your jaw shifting as it tries to get more comfortable. Other reasons for bruxism include chronic stress, which causes your jaw muscles to remain tense, a dysfunction in your jaw known as TMJ disorder, and more.
You have several treatment options
The good news is that you have several options for addressing your bruxism and any conditions that may have resulted from it. In many cases, bruxism can be effectively addressed with a custom-designed nightguard, which protects upper and lower teeth from grinding together at night. If you have one or more teeth that have been worn down or damaged by your bruxism, then your treatment may also include restoring those teeth to reestablish proper balance in your bite.
Find out if you grind your teeth too much
Left unchecked, grinding your teeth can become a serious problem for your oral health. Fortunately, we can help you put a stop to it. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA immediately at (515) 965-0230. We also proudly serve patients who live in Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities.
