Do You Grind Your Teeth At Night?

Although dental prevention is the foundation of a healthy smile, it is important to note that we would be nowhere without the help of restorative treatment. Indeed, prevention is designed to keep your structures healthy and strong, but sometimes oral bacteria and other concerns may have another plan in mind. As such, restorations help mitigate damage and restore your teeth to a healthy level. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX dentist discusses how the unconscious phenomenon of teeth grinding can influence your oral health, as well as what your treatment options might be.

A Dangerous Phenomenon

Have you ever woken up in the morning and noticed that your mouth and jaw feel tired or sore? While it may be easy to write off this experience as a result of a miscalculated sleeping position, the truth of the matter is that it oftentimes has something to do with unconscious teeth grinding while you slumber, a process known as bruxism.

Like snoring, many people tend to ignore bruxism because they believe it is not something to be concerned about. On the contrary, untreated teeth grinding can actually prove to be a major concern, especially the longer it is allowed to persist.

You see, this phenomenon occurs when a person clenches his or her structures together tightly, then proceeds to move the lower jaw from side to side. This process creates friction, and the consistent friction between your teeth causes them to wear down over time. What’s more? Worn teeth can become increasingly more brittle, and your chances of enduring a bacterial infection increase as well. To learn more about this process and how our team can help, give our office a call today.

How it Can Get Worse

As if worn teeth and increased chances of infection are not enough, untreated teeth grinding can lead to a dangerous jaw dysfunction known as TMJ Disorder. This phenomenon is characterized by the lower jaw becoming misaligned with one or even both of the temporomandibular joints at which it hinges to the cranium. As a result, a person with TMJ Disorder will experience a painful popping sensation in the jaw as it attempts to correct the issue on its own. Unfortunately, this can lead to tissue damage, so it is best to come into the office as soon as you can for treatment.

What are Your Options?

When treating TMJ Disorder, one of the biggest concerns involves protecting your teeth. As such, our team can help set you up with a custom oral appliance to protect your pearly whites while you slumber. We also have treatment options for TMJ disorder, so make sure to ask our team the next time you visit.

Schedule Your Appointment

Contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 to learn more about your bruxism treatment options, and schedule your next visit with our office today.