The sounds of your teeth grinding at night may be loud enough to disrupt your partner’s rest. Bruxism, the term for this habitual teeth grinding, can cause you to consistently wake up in a state of discomfort. What you should know is that this condition is more than just a minor nuisance. You can clench your jaw with enough force to damage your your teeth. You can develop minor chips and cracks, but you can also find yourself experiencing real dental discomfort, and needing restorative dental work to fix a tooth. Your risk for TMD also increases, as bruxism is taxing to your jaw joints. This can mean more discomfort, including chronic headaches, and difficulty operating your jaw.
Putting A Stop To Bruxism And TMD
Your dentist can stop the damage bruxism is doing to your teeth by providing you with a custom mouth guard that keeps you from grinding them. You can wear the mouth guard each night, while you sleep. TMD treatment can involve a special oral appliance, but it could also require lifestyle changes. You may need to adjust what position you stay in when you sleep, or seek out more soft foods for your diet.
Making Sure Your Smile Looks Good After A Teeth Grinding Habit
One problem a person who has dealt with bruxism can face is worn, prematurely aged teeth. If your habit of grinding your teeth has left your smile in poorer shape, you might want to review your cosmetic dental treatment options with your dentist. The right work can cover up these smaller bits of damage, but more serious damage could require restorative work.
