While occasionally clenching or grinding your teeth is not uncommon, it can be dangerous if it becomes a frequent habit, especially if it happens during sleep. To prevent damage from tooth grinding, we encourage you to learn its signs so that you can seek treatment for your smile.
Damaging Effects of Bruxism
If you grind your teeth at night, a condition called bruxism, you may feel immediate pain in the form of ongoing headaches and jaw pain. Later effects can include loose, worn-down and fractured teeth; tooth loss; damage to your fillings and crowns and bone loss around the teeth.
Complications of Addressing Tooth Grinding Habits
Many patients aren’t even aware they have bruxism since the habit often occurs while they are sleeping, which may mean that the problem remain undetected and untreated for a long time. It’s important to have a dentist examine you if you have symptoms such as a sore jaw, morning headaches, worn-down teeth and inflammation in the gums.
Find Help from Our Team
Our dentist offers a variety of treatments for bruxism to prevent and repair tooth damage. Depending on your needs, you can receive a custom-made night guard to protect your teeth, or you can discuss having your teeth realigned to reduce grinding. Finally, you may find that lifestyle changes such as lowering daily stress stop tooth grinding and enhance your whole-body health.
To learn more about how to treat bruxism in Sevierville, TN contact our office at 865-453-1001 today for a consultation with Dr. Morton.
