The daily effort you put into brushing and flossing your teeth helps guard against the dangers of tooth decay and gum disease. While these practices are vital to maintaining a healthy smile, what can you do to protect against unconscious grinding habits? For those who exhibit this issue at night while they are asleep, it can be hard to detect until the damage becomes severe. By attending regular dental checkups, your dentist can let you know if you have the symptoms of bruxism and discuss solutions to help protect your smile.
At your Ankeny, IA dental practice, we want to protect your smile against threats and protect the strength of your bite. If you are wearing your teeth against one another consistently, you can lose their protective enamel layer, leading to a higher risk for cavities or gingival infection. We could design an oral guard that protects your smile by separating each row of teeth while you sleep. After getting bruxism under control, we can also explore cosmetic solutions to repair your smile.
How Do I Tell If I Grind My Teeth?
To begin detecting a problem with grinding, you may have to rely upon the help of your family. Ask a loved one to watch over you while you sleep to see if you move your jaw at night. They may see your cheeks moving back and forth or even hear the sound of your teeth gnashing. By scheduling routine dental checkups, you receive an examination that can uncover wear on your back molars from bruxism. This is but one of many reasons why it is so vital to stay on your semiannual visitation schedule!
Designing An Oral Guard
We can create an oral guard for you to wear at night and protect your smile. When you come to our office, we will take impressions of your teeth to create a custom, BPA-free solution that fits the contour of your unique bite. By placing the appliance on each row of teeth, you can also relieve the force of your bite that may create severe tension through your facial muscles. Patients often report waking up feeling more refreshed due to the relaxation of this stress. After stopping your bruxism habit, we could plan cosmetic treatments that build up structure lost to constant wear and tear.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Protecting Your Smile From Bruxism
If you suspect you have a problem with grinding your teeth at night, we could provide an oral mouthguard to wear while you sleep. This custom solution protects each row of teeth from grinding down one another. To find out more about the effects of bruxism or to schedule an appointment, please call your Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office at (515) 207-6182. We also serve patients from Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and nearby communities.
