Do you notice yourself grinding your teeth repeatedly throughout the day, or as you drift off to sleep at night? Do your teeth feel extra sensitive even though you don’t have a cavity or any visible tooth damage? For patients in El Paso, TX, excessive teeth-grinding is a serious concern that could lead to a host of dental health issues if not addressed properly. If you grind your teeth, then speak with your dentist to determine if it’s cause for bruxism treatment.
Could It Be Bruxism?
Bruxism is the constant and consistent grinding of your teeth, and it shouldn’t be confused with occasionally clenching your jaws and teeth together. For patients with bruxism, the grinding occurs unconsciously and may be a symptom of a bite misalignment, excessive stress, or more. For some patients, it occurs most often at night, making their bruxism more difficult to detect on their own.
Why Your Dentist Should Know
Because teeth-grinding can occur without you realizing it, and because it doesn’t always mean you have bruxism, it’s important to speak with your dentist about your condition as soon as possible. During a thorough examination, your dentist can check for signs of bruxism, such as worn down chewing surfaces on your teeth or discrepancies in the alignment of your teeth or bite.
What You Can Do About It
If your dentist detects bruxism, then understanding the exact nature of it will be essential to successfully treating it. For instance, if it’s the cause of a bite misalignment, then treatment such as orthodontic braces may be necessary to correct it. For more minor cases, a custom-designed oral appliance may be able to protect teeth from damage and alleviate the jaw strain that leads to constant teeth-grinding.
Learn How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth
If you grind your teeth often enough (a condition known as bruxism), then leaving it untreated could cause extensive tooth damage. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.