Your smile faces a number of threats every day, such as harmful oral bacteria and the lingering food particles that feed them. These bacteria can lead to progressive concerns like tooth decay and gum disease, which are among the most common threats to your smile. However, in some cases, your teeth may be a danger to themselves, such as when you constantly grind them together without realizing it. Known as bruxism, constant teeth-grinding can wear your teeth down, throw your bite off-balance, and increase your risks of tooth decay and severe tooth damage.
Defining Bruxism
For patients with bruxism, grinding teeth isn’t just an occasional habit. In fact, one of the most common symptoms is the tendency to grind your teeth in your sleep virtually every night, as well as at random moments throughout the day. While clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth can be natural responses to things like stress, anxiety, and pain, teeth-grinding is more than just a reaction for patients with bruxism. It’s an ongoing condition that will continue to grow worse until you actively treat it.
What to Do if You Grind Your Teeth
If you notice that you grind your teeth often during the day, or if your sleeping partner complains of the grinding noises you make in your sleep, then you may have bruxism. Your dentist may also notice signs of bruxism (i.e., excessive tooth wear, chipped edges, and more) during your routine exams and cleanings. If so, then he will recommend an appropriate treatment plan to help you stop grinding your teeth and restore any damage that may have been done.
Ask Your Dentist if Bruxism is Threatening Your Smile
If you grind your teeth, then you should ask your dentist if bruxism is something you should be worried about. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Just Wright Dental in Corsicana, TX, today by calling (903) 225-2221.