We produce less saliva while we sleep, which means our teeth have less protection against oral bacteria. Fortunately, you can address that buildup when you wake by thoroughly cleaning your smile. If you have issues with bruxism, you have to worry about another threat to your enamel during the night. The act of unconsciously grinding or clenching your jaw during rest can lead to mounting stress on your joints and muscles, persistent pain, and potential dental damage! Your Columbia, TN dentist can help you protect yourself against this problem. At an appointment, you can also learn about procedures capable of addressing visible damage to your teeth.
Are You Hurting Your Smile By Grinding Your Teeth?
If you have a tendency to grind or clench your jaw while you sleep, you can do more significant harm to your smile than you may realize. The repeated act of grinding your teeth can lead to visible changes in their shape, and it can also make you vulnerable to potentially serious chips and cracks! This habit also creates unwelcome issues for your jaw joints and muscles. Pressure from bruxism can lead to problems with TMJ disorder that interfere with your bite movement and may affect your ability to speak, laugh, or yawn without experiencing some discomfort.
Dealing With Nightly Teeth Grinding Issues
To stop you from doing more harm to your smile while you sleep, your dentist can provide you with a custom oral guard to keep your teeth apart. The guard is a custom-designed appliance that you can wear comfortably during the night. Its presence keeps your teeth apart, and it can stop you from putting excess pressure on your joints and muscles. We can also recommend oral appliance therapy for those who are dealing with persistent pain and sensitivity because of TMJ disorder.
Restoring A Smile Affected By Worn Or Damaged Enamel
Unfortunately, patients sometimes wait until they have visible dental damage to seek treatment for bruxism. If you are someone who feels self-conscious about the way they look because of chipped, cracked, or otherwise worn teeth, we can help. Through the right restorative or cosmetic dental procedure, we can take care of your appearance by addressing damage or wear and tear. For any teeth that are damaged enough to affect their health or bite function, we can recommend treatment with a dental crown to provide lasting protection.
Talk To Your Columbia, TN Dentist About Your Issues With Bruxism And Dental Damage
Through an appointment with your Columbia, TN dentist, you can learn how ongoing issues with nightly teeth grinding can be addressed. In addition to protecting you against further trouble with this issue, we can provide treatment if wear and tear already affect you. To find out more about our practice, and about the services that we provide, please call Creekside Family Dentistry at (931) 388–3384.