What is Bruxism?
When you have missing or severely damaged teeth, you might hear your dentist talking about dental crowns or dental bridges. These two restorative options come up quite often because they are both effective ways to restore your teeth so you can chew properly and have a natural-looking smile. Dr. Vinton at Soothing Dental can provide you with dental crowns and bridges, depending on your needs. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between these two dental options and whether you might be a good candidate for either one.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is when you grind or clench your teeth when you are not chewing. It happens most often during sleep, but it can happen unconsciously during the day, too.
Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism
Even if you are not aware of grinding or clenching your teeth, you might still be doing it if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Your sleep is often disrupted.
- You wake up with a headache, jaw pain, or ear pain.
- Your jaw or facial muscles feel tense.
- Some of your teeth are worn down, revealing the yellow dentin that is below the enamel.
- Your teeth are overly sensitive.
- You get chips or cracks in your teeth.
If you have some of these symptoms, discuss them with your dentist. It could be bruxism, but it could also be something else. It’s important to get an expert’s diagnosis.
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism can be caused by how your teeth are aligned, or it can be related to mental health issues that cause you to clench or grind your teeth. Let’s first take a look at the causes of bruxism:
- Abnormal bite. The way your teeth align together when you bite down can be so misaligned that your mouth unconsciously grinds or clenches.
- Growing teeth. Some children experience bruxism as their teeth grow and change. Thankfully, this doesn’t last very long, and it usually corrects itself when the teeth grow in properly.
- Crooked or missing teeth. Bruxism can be caused by teeth that are not in their correct spaces.
Other issues that can cause bruxism that are not directly teeth-related include:
- Stress and anxiety. If you are stressed, anxious, frustrated, or angry, you may find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth. The stress could be caused by circumstances or mental illness.
- Neurological conditions that cause you to move in your sleep, such as Parkinson’s disease.
- Certain medications have bruxism as a side-effect. This includes some antidepressants.
- Sleep apnea. This condition disturbs your sleep, which can cause bruxism.
How is Bruxism Treated?
Let the dental professionals at Soothing Dental come up with a customized bruxism treatment plan that works for you.
Your bruxism treatment plan could include:
- Nightguards. We can make a custom nightguard to fit your mouth. You wear it while you sleep, preventing your teeth from touching when you clench or grind.
- Equilibration of the teeth. Allow us to fix or straighten your teeth, so your bite is well-aligned. We can also change the shape of your teeth and replace missing teeth.
- Treatment of underlying symptoms of bruxism. If your bruxism condition is not caused by teeth-related issues, we can help you find out its underlying causes. While we do not have the qualifications to treat a mental or neurological condition, we can suggest you seek treatment from someone who can.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat Bruxism?
Untreated bruxism leads to more problems, including:
- Worn-down teeth
- Chipped and broken teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain
- TMJ disorders
- Headaches
Bruxism Treatments in Midlothian, Texas
If you think you might suffer from bruxism, contact us to schedule an appointment. Soothing Dental is committed to improving your oral health, and that includes treating bruxism. We will thoroughly examine your mouth to determine the cause of your problems, and then we will create a personalized treatment plan, so you can start feeling better.
