Is There a Way to Stop Grinding Your Teeth?

Bruxism, or chronic teeth-grinding, can often be the source of several different oral health concerns, and that’s largely due to the fact that not everyone who has it realizes what a problem it is. Until they do, the constant grinding of their teeth can gradually wear down, damage, and threaten your teeth to increasingly more severe degrees. Fortunately, there’s a way to stop grinding your teeth if you experience bruxism, and if you address the condition early, you have a good chance of keeping your treatment as minimally invasive as possible.

Identifying your case of bruxism

The first step to actively addressing your case of bruxism is to accurately identify and diagnose it. On your own, this may be difficult. You may not always notice all of the times that you grind your teeth throughout the day and night, and the instances you do take notice of may not be enough to cause you alarm. You may not realize you have a teeth-grinding problem until it starts to cause significant damage to your teeth. However, if you maintain a regular schedule of preventive checkup and cleaning appointments, your dentist is more likely to notice the signs of a teeth-grinding problem and help you put a stop to it with customized, conservative treatment.

Taking the problem seriously

Once you know that your teeth-grinding is more than just an occasional occurrence and that you have a bruxism problem, it’s important to follow your dentist’s advice and treat it as soon as possible. Grinding your teeth together consistently can be a serious threat to your oral health even if you don’t notice any symptoms on your own yet. The excessive pressure and friction can wear your teeth down and make them more susceptible to concerns like tooth damage. The rest of your oral health can be increasingly threatened and restoring your smile could require more extensive restorative treatment.

Putting a stop to your teeth-grinding

Treating your bruxism problem largely means putting a stop to the grinding of your teeth, which can mean different things for different people who experience it. For example, you may grind your teeth because of a slight imbalance in your bite that makes your jaw joints (or TMJs) constantly uncomfortable. Or, your teeth may be crooked and require orthodontic treatment to straighten them to bring balance to your bite. For many people, however, bruxism can be stopped with the help of a custom-designed oral appliance that can be worn comfortably while you sleep at night.

Learn more about how to stop bruxism

If you have bruxism, then we can help you find the right solution to stop grinding your teeth and preserve your oral health longer. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling MMC Dental in Houston, TX, today at (713) 926-8896.