How Bruxism Puts Your Smile At Risk

Are you keeping up with the different threats to your smile? Problems with dental decay and stains from different foods and drinks can certainly make trouble for your teeth. What you might not realize is that a certain nighttime activity can lead to enamel wear and tear, and eventually serious harm to your tooth structure. Many people have difficulties with nightly teeth grinding, a problem also known as bruxism. As a result, they can experience worsening wear and tear that will cause problems for their appearance and well-being. Let your Ankeny, IA dentist know if you think this is something that affects you. The sooner you treat it, the sooner you can put this issue behind you!

Is An Issue With Bruxism Really Able To Damage Your Teeth?

You can do serious harm to your smile if you have a tendency to grind and clench your teeth while you are asleep. The friction can wear down your enamel, making your smile look older and less attractive. When the problem persists in hurting your smile, it can lead to chips and cracks that more seriously hurt your appearance as well as your oral health. This is a problem that can affect you in other ways, as you can put mounting pressure on your joints and muscles, leading to pain and stiffness when you bite, chew, and speak.

Using A Custom Guard To Protect Your Enamel

With a custom oral guard, it is possible for you to rest comfortably and protect your smile. The appliance is custom-made to ensure that it will remain in place and provide reliable protection throughout the night. Its presence stops you from wearing down your teeth through habitual grinding and clenching. It can also provide relief from worsening tension on your jaw joints and muscles.

Planning Treatment To Restore Damaged Teeth

Through timely care, you can protect yourself against problems with bruxism that hurt your smile and oral health. If the problem has already made trouble for your smile, you can discuss either cosmetic or restorative dental work. The right treatment can protect vulnerable teeth, or it can discreetly and subtly take on problems with tooth shape and size while only making conservative changes to tooth structure.

Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Your Issues With Bruxism

Bruxism is not a problem that you should take lightly. Fortunately, when you address it in time, you can prevent potential complications that would negatively affect your appearance as well as your oral health. Our practice is ready to help you deal with this and other issues that might impact your smile and quality of life. If you would like to find out more, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.