Bruxism is a Common Condition with Serious Side Effects
Learn About Teeth Grinding Symptoms and Causes
A person doesn’t have to be asleep in order to grind their teeth, although millions do each night. Others might be under stress or upset, at which time they clench and grind their teeth over the others—usually back and forth.
Bruxism is what you do unconsciously while awake, and sleep bruxism happens while at rest and is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. Usually, if someone has this condition, additional sleep disorders are usually present, such as sleep apnea and snoring.
It’s More Than Misshapen Teeth
Depending upon the severity of the teeth grinding, a person can get frequent headaches, jaw problems and fractured teeth. Dr. Hauser will need to see your oral cavity and take digital x-rays to see the severity of any type of teeth grinding; however, an initial view of the teeth usually indicates there is a problem that needs to be addressed.
If the teeth are flat, worn down and have an abnormal shape that’s known to be caused by grinding teeth, a custom night guard is recommended immediately to stop the deterioration and damage to the teeth before the oral cavity’s condition becomes worse.
Store Mouth Guards Can Cause More Problems Than You Think
The over-the-counter mouth guards cannot be made like a custom mold at a dental office. Even the smallest area of room for the guard and teeth to wiggle and move can cause continued damage to teeth, which in turn also affects the gums and tooth root.
Bleeding Gums is a Sign of Other Problems
It’s worth the small cost to have Dr. Hauser make a custom teeth grinding mouth guard, which is completely painless. Most people who get the store-bought mouth guards find their teeth hurt more and gums bleed each time they brush. Due to the lack of customization based on their teeth and gums, an ill-fitting night guard can cause more problems.
Make sure your local dentist evaluates the entire oral cavity for gum disease, such as gingivitis or even periodontal disease. Just adding a night guard without correcting these oral diseases isn’t going to make the situation better. If a mouth guard is causing pain, even if it’s custom made, it means an underlying condition exists or has occurred and needs to be looked at immediately.
A mouth guard should never cause a patient pain, so make sure and come in for a checkup so Lakefront Family Dentistry can evaluate the root cause of the discomfort and correct it right away.
Teeth Grinding Can Cause TMJ
If the problems persists, your temporomandibular joint can be impacted, which is painful. Therefore, gaining control by having a custom night guard can alleviate many problems associated with this common condition.
75% of the jaw clicks people experience might be all right with a custom night guard, but 25% of people could end up with arthritis and inflammation in their jaw joints, which is painful for the rest of one’s life. Having Dr. Derek Hauser, DDS, determine if any additional treatment, such as an equilibration are necessary is something a patient should take seriously.
Wearing Down Enamel and Dentin
If Dr. Hauser recommends filing down some of the fractured teeth, it’s due to a lack of enamel on the teeth that has been worn away. Under the enamel is the dentin, which is a softer and can erode more quickly and lead to nerve damage in your teeth.
Restorative material is recommended on teeth that have been filed down, depending upon the severity of tooth depletion, so the remaining teeth are protected from nerve damage.
Get a diagnosis today at Lakefront Family Dentistry before the disorder causes thousands of dollars’ worth of oral damage to your cavity later on in life. It’s worth the small cost of a teeth grinding night guard to save many facets of your health and wallet later on. Call (951) 244-9495 or Request an Appointment Online Today.