Cosmetic dentistry solutions are strong, durable, and long-lasting. What can always threaten their stability though are a person’s habits, even unconscious ones. Teeth grinding is a major danger to oral health and leaving it untreated can destroy your veneers, crowns, tooth-colored fillings, and more.
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding isn’t always obvious to the sufferer. It might be clear to the person they share a bed with since the clenching and grinding occurs mostly during sleep – some people gnash their teeth so much they can wake another person up. It’s the feelings and signs that you have upon waking that can loudly indicate a sleep bruxism problem to you:
- Tension headaches
- Clicking or popping jaw joints
- Sore jaw
- Tenderness when eating
- Inflammation
Cosmetic Dentistry Damage Caused by Bruxism
The side effects of bruxism can seriously threaten your cosmetic dentistry, ravaging the hard work your dentist did to deliver a flawless smile makeover. Along with problems like gum recession, enamel erosion, cracked teeth, and worn teeth, teeth grinding can cause:
- Damaged fillings
- Broken crowns
- Cracked veneers
- Chipped dental bonding
Causes of Teeth Grinding
Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, but it’s not immune to itself. Teeth exert incredible force when they bite and chew – imagine how this strength is compounded through teeth grinding and clenching. Quite often, teeth grinding is brought on by stress, but bite misalignment can also be to blame and, as you will see below, complications with the TMJ.
TMJ Problems
Sometimes, teeth grinding is a result of problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These jaw muscles are responsible for allowing a person to open and close their mouth but when they’re chronically inflamed, severe mouth and jaw pain can result, as well as damaged cosmetic dentistry. This may also be known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
Misdiagnosis of Teeth Grinding
TMJ problems and teeth grinding can sometimes masquerade as other health problems. If you go to your primary care physician for help, you could get a misdiagnosis for a physical or even mental ailment. If their recommended treatment does not help and they didn’t ask about any oral health problems during your visit, it’s time to see a dentist.
Get a Customized Night Guard for Teeth Grinding
The best, fastest, and most effective way to combat teeth grinding is with a customized night guard. Once a mold and digital images are taken, your dentist will submit these details to the dental lab and you will then be the recipient of a custom-fitted appliance. The relief will be immediate and the presence of the night guard can save you from a host of oral health problems and painful side effects.
Do You Have Sleep Bruxism?
The only way to get a personalized night guard is to have an exam done by your dentist and be fitted for a professional-grade mouthpiece. Certainly, over-the-counter options are available, but they are not a long-term solution for a chronic problem. Your dentist will determine the root cause of your issue and make recommendations to improve your oral health. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Shevchenko and her team at Smiles by the Sea in Hampton, NH, to see what solutions are right for you.