Because bruxism often can cause you to grind your teeth at night, while sleeping, you may be unsure why you are waking up with dental pain or sensitivity. Unfortunately, that inability to stop yourself from clenching your jaw can lead to serious dental damage. In some instances, patients can require dental crowns to restore teeth that have been badly chipped or cracked during nighttime grinding. Your Dallas, TX dentist can work with you to correct this problem, and stop you from suffering continued pain due to bruxism. You can also arrange treatment if you are already seeing the effects of dental wear and tear.
Why Am I Grinding My Teeth While I Sleep?
Nighttime teeth grinding can be related to stress, or untreated issues with TMJ dysfunction. Problems that increase your risk for TMJ dysfunction include problems with your bite alignment, a jaw injury, or arthritis affecting your jaw joints. While different people can find themselves dealing with this issue for different reasons, anyone suffering from bruxism should know that their risk for smile damage will continue if they simply try to ignore the matter.
Take Prompt Action When You Think Your Smile Might Be At Risk
If you think nighttime teeth grinding is putting you at risk for a dental injury, make time to see your dentist and bring up these worries. Because you are clenching your jaw unconsciously, and are not awake to recognize when it is happening, it can be hard to make yourself simply stop this behavior. Fortunately, your dentist can construct a special appliance for you to wear while you sleep. This guard can keep your teeth safe, and its custom design can make it comfortable and secure. If poor dental alignment seems to contribute to your teeth grinding troubles, your dentist can discuss orthodontic work with you.
Dealing With Dental Harm Caused By Bruxism
Unfortunately, some people only take the threat of bruxism seriously AFTER they have experienced consequences that affect their smile. If you are alarmed by the sight of chipped or cracked teeth, or just feel that wear and tear may have changed your smile for the worse, the right procedure can help you. Your dentist can offer cosmetic dental work for milder issues with dental damage. If the harm is serious enough to affect the health of teeth, dental crowns could be needed to properly restore them.
Columbia Dental And Orthodontics Can Help You Effectively Deal With Bruxism
At Columbia Dental And Orthodontics, you can look forward to effective treatment for bruxism! You can receive a special mouth guard to stop nightly teeth grinding, and you can discuss the right solution to smile problems with cosmetic or restorative dental work. To find out more, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kalyan Nadella or Dr. Benjamin Walder by calling Columbia Dental & Orthodontics in East Dallas, TX today at (214) 827-8000.