Loving your smile is one of the first steps to feeling comfortable in your own skin, and fortunately, cosmetic dentistry can help tremendously. Indeed, cosmetic care allows our team to provide noninvasive treatment to address surface-level blemishes with lifelike accuracy. When it comes to bigger issues that impact your health, however, you may require a more extensive treatment that is customized to your specific needs. In today’s blog, your Auburn Hills, MI dentist examines the effects of untreated chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, and the ways it influences your oral health.
Understanding Bruxism
If you have ever awoken with a sore or tense jaw, chances are, you may have experienced bruxism. Bruxism is the name given to the act of chronic teeth grinding. This phenomenon occurs when an individual tightly clenches his or her top and bottom teeth together, then proceeds to move the lower jaw or mandible from side to side. As a result, your structures will rub together vigorously and result in tension while also generating friction.
While routine preventive dental practices can help in strengthening your enamel and teeth, keep in mind that actions such as teeth grinding can cause degradation in the form of worn enamel. Once this material is gone, it is gone for good. In other words, it is important to stay on top of your oral health, and an understanding of what is actually taking place is a must.
When a person endures chronic teeth grinding, a sore jaw will end up becoming the least of your worries. To learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment options available, contact our team today.
Noticeable Signs and Symptoms
While chronic teeth grinding may occur only when you are unconscious, there are a number of symptoms and telltale signs that indicate there is an issue at hand. For example, waking with a sore or tense jaw as we mentioned earlier could indicate bruxism, just as the inability to open the mouth fully would.
In terms of side effects, a person enduring chronic bruxism will endure a higher risk of developing a bacterial infection, as well as greater chances of experiencing dental damage due to brittle or soft teeth. Contact our office today to learn more.
Seek Treatment Sooner
It is never wise to wait before seeking treatment, and our team is ready to help. We offer bruxism treatment in the form of an oral appliance, as well as how to provide treatment when your teeth grinding has developed into a dangerous jaw dysfunction known as TMJ Disorder.
Schedule Your Appointment
To learn more about your options for treating bruxism-related concerns, contact Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI by calling 248-852-1820 and schedule your next office visit with our team today.
