What daily habits do you practice to maintain the strength and integrity of your teeth? Regularly brushing and flossing protects your smile from the oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, but what can you do to prevent physical wear and tear of your teeth at night? When you experience bruxism, the unconscious habit of grinding your teeth, you may be damaging your teeth nightly without being aware. This unfortunate habit wears away the protective surface of your teeth, exposing their inner material, and altering your alignment. As your enamel wears away, you become more susceptible to decay, and a shift in your problem brings an entirely new set of oral health problems. This is why you should seek treatment to relieve this habit and gain valuable protection for your smile.
At your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can help you protect your teeth from nightly grinding and relieve painful stress within your jaw and facial muscles. Whenever you attend a routine dental cleaning, we examine your teeth for common signs of wear and tear. If we discover the symptoms of bruxism, we can offer an oral night guard to separate your teeth while you sleep. This nonsurgical solution may be exactly what you are looking for!
How Do You Discover Your Grinding Habit?
Knowing you have bruxism can be hard to determine in its earlier stages. You may be completely unaware of the damage grinding your teeth is causing each night when you go to bed until the signs become obvious. When you do notice cracks or chips appearing, make sure to let your dentist know right away. They can examine your smile and determine if you need protection from this nightly habit. If you wake up each morning with pain or stiffness in your jaw, this is another sign to inform your dentist. Having one of your family members or friends observe you at night can also determine if you are grinding. They may be able to hear the sounds of clenching teeth and see movement within your cheeks as you sleep.
Wearing Your Oral Guard
We will provide a nightly oral guard to help you protect your teeth at night. Made from a custom BPA-free material, your appliance separates each row of teeth while fitting comfortably in your mouth. Because your guard relieves the pressure of your bite, you may wake up feeling more refreshed with less soreness throughout your face. We can also discuss cosmetic solutions to restore damaged teeth once we have stopped the habit in its tracks.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Protecting Your Teeth From Bruxism
Wearing an oral guard at night can prevent your teeth from clenching and grinding. For more information on this habit or to schedule an appointment, please contact our Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office at 515-207-6182. We proudly serve patients from Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and surrounding communities.
