How serious is a nightly habit of teeth grinding? The more time you spend clenching or grinding your teeth, the more likely you are to face serious consequences from this action. Over time, the wear and tear on your enamel can hurt your smile. If the pressure is significant enough, you can actually break teeth by grinding them! Another concern you should have is that you can cause problems for your jaw joints and muscles, which will lead to chronic pain and stiffness. At our Seattle, WA dentist’s office, we are ready to help patients protect their teeth against habitual grinding, a problem also known as bruxism. A custom oral guard can keep your smile safe while you sleep, and put an end to concerns about damage or advanced wear and tear. We can also provide the appropriate services if you need to do something about dental damage.
1. Dental Wear And Tear Can Hurt Your Smile
Even if your troubles with bruxism are addressed early, there may be noticeable damage to your teeth that will make you self-conscious about the way you look. Minor wear and tear can be addressed through cosmetic dental work. To restore the look of individual teeth that are worn or misshapen, we can recommend a dental bonding procedure. This treatment relies on a composite material that is applied directly to your enamel. Another cosmetic treatment option is the placement of porcelain veneers, slim restorations that are bonded to the fronts of teeth to provide improvements.
2. Damage To Your Enamel Can Lead To Oral Health Issues
If too much pressure is placed on a tooth over time, it can chip or crack. In addition to changing the way it looks, this damage can make a tooth vulnerable to problems with infection. For tooth injuries that are more advanced, we may need to perform root canal therapy and cap a tooth with a custom dental crown.
3. Pressure From Grinding Can Lead To TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder can stem from teeth grinding, problems with poor bite alignment, or any other problems that affect the health or position of your jaw joints. The consequences of these issues can be hard to deal with. You may have issues with headaches, difficult or painful jaw movement, and even issues with face and neck pain.
Talk To Your Seattle, WA Dentist About Your Teeth Grinding Issues
If you let bruxism go untreated, the consequences for your oral health can be serious. If you need to schedule treatment for bruxism, or if you need to address damage that has already occurred, Hygge Laser Dentistry can help! In addition to providing a custom oral appliance to protect you from damage, we can determine what restorative or cosmetic services might be needed to give you back confidence in your smile. To find out more, please call our dentist’s office in Seattle, WA today at 206-789-2555.
