If you grind your teeth regularly, friction wears away the surface of your enamel and can create serious problems with your appearance and oral health. Although normal biting and chewing applies force throughout your day, the eroding effect is comparatively minimal. But when you grind your teeth on a nightly basis, you can alter your dental alignment and become susceptible to tooth decay. This is because healthy enamel shields the inner layer from acidic decay. When you wear away the enamel, bacterial plaques more easily cause cavities within your injured teeth. You may also find your teeth appear yellow as the bright white surface is destroyed. The pressure from constant clenching can also create a problem in your temporomandibular joints called TMJ disorder. By preventing you from fully opening and closing your mouth, TMJ is a painful consequence of not treating this habit.
At your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can evaluate your smile for signs of nightly grinding. If detected, we can provide a solution in the form of an oral guard to protect your teeth while you sleep. This appliance prevents further damage and relieves pressure placed upon the joints of your jaw.
Protecting Your Teeth While You Sleep
While brushing and flossing your teeth before bed helps you fight decay, how can you prevent physical wear and tear while you sleep? Also known as bruxism, this behavior can be difficult to detect until significant damage takes place. As your enamel wears, you may notice your teeth become more sensitive to extreme temperatures. If you wake up with a sore jaw or face, this may indicate bruxism. Consider asking a family member to monitor you while you sleep to detect the habit.
At Dental Impressions of Ankeny, we can examine your smile for signs of bruxism and provide a protective appliance. Made from BPA-free materials, an oral guard separates each row of teeth from grinding while you are unconscious. This treatment stops the erosion of your enamel and prevents chips and cracks from further wearing away your teeth.
Repairing Existing Damage
While an oral guard can stop the cause of your worn teeth, we can plan cosmetic treatments to restore their beauty as well. Porcelain veneers can cover physical imperfections and return a bright white shade to your smile’s appearance. By placing custom shells in front of each tooth, we can fix damage from bruxism without intensively altering their structure.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Treating The Nightly Grinding of Your Teeth
You can protect your teeth and relieve tension in your jaw by wearing an oral guard while you sleep. Our practice can also help you restore the beauty of a smile damaged by a nightly grinding habit. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at 515-207-6182. We proudly serve patients from Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and any other surrounding community as well!
