Bruxism, in which we grind and clench our teeth frequently as we sleep, could lead to damaged smiles and a host of potential complications. To treat the issue and protect your smile from chips and cracks, your Houston, TX, dentist may suggest treatment with a bruxism nightguard! In today’s blog, find out how a comfortable mouthguard can help safeguard your smile.
The Causes of Bruxism
We may start grinding our teeth as a result of changes to our bite, such as tooth loss or injury, which upset the balance and strain the jaw joints. Untreated TMJ disorder could be a cause, as could dental misalignment too. High levels of stress have been linked to teeth grinding episodes as well. As part of your treatment, we will carefully examine your smile with advanced technology to identify the factors behind your bruxism, allowing us to choose the most appropriate treatment options.
Warning Signs and Complications
Warning signs of bruxism may include headaches and migraines, worn down or chipped/cracked teeth, and pain in the face or jaw. There could be popping or clicking sensations in the jaw too. Tooth sensitivity and toothaches due to the pressure and damage could occur as well. When the teeth become damaged, this exposes the sensitive inner structures to bacteria, a complication that enables cavities and infections to form, further threatening the health and stability of your smile! If you encounter one or more of these symptoms, then we urge you to contact our team for treatment.
Creating a Custom Nightguard
For some, we could help restore balance by placing a dental crown, or by using orthodontics to address minor or severe misalignment. These steps help ease strain on the jaw. However, the most common option is to create an oral appliance that is worn as you sleep. To ensure treatment with precision and accuracy, we will take detailed impressions and measurements of your smile, and use them in the design process. When the appliance is complete, you will wear the nightguard as you sleep. The device repositions the jaw to ease any pressure on the joints and oral structures, and also provides a barrier between the upper and lower teeth. The barrier helps prevent further damage to the teeth. If you have any questions about treating issues like bruxism, or about any of our preventive and general treatments options, then contact our team today.
OUR HOUSTON, TX DENTIST’S OFFICE TALKS PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE
At our Houston, TX dentist’s office, we want to help treat issues like bruxism to protect the health and stability of your smile, and will often do so with comfortable and minimally-invasive options. Find out more about our approach to treating issues like teeth grinding and TMJ disorder by calling Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry at (281) 974-4494.
