Nightly Teeth Grinding And Your Smile

People who spend their nights unconsciously grinding their teeth can have difficult mornings, as their days can start with pain and sensitivity issues that affect their teeth and jaw. Unfortunately, this is a condition that can cause worsening discomfort over time as well as permanent damage to your tooth structure! At our Prairie Village, KS dentist’s office, we can help those impacted by bruxism so that nightly grinding and clenching no longer cause them difficulties. We can also help with related problems caused by TMJ disorder, as well as dental damage that occurs because of nightly issues with bruxism.

How Can I Tell If I Grind My Teeth At Night?

Teeth grinding is a common stress response. While you can recognize when it happens during the day and relax the muscles, you may experience ongoing problems because of nightly grinding or clenching. If this is the case, you can experience issues like the following:

  • Problems with sore or sensitive teeth, particularly after you wake
  • Difficulty caused by a sore or sensitive jaw
  • Visible wear and tear that affects your enamel

If you do not act in time to address this problem, its effects can grow more serious. Eventually, you can wind up with dental damage that is serious enough to require restorative dental work! Bruxism is often linked to issues with TMJ disorder, a problem with jaw pain and sensitivity that can affect your bite function and quality of life.

Securing Protection Against Bruxism

By wearing a custom oral guard during the night, you can stop yourself from damaging your smile when you are asleep. The guard is made for you as an individual to make sure that it fits properly and provides security and comfort. Oral guards are also helpful for those who wish to do something about stress or poor jaw joint alignment responsible for TMJ disorder.

Dealing With The Effects Of Past Teeth Grinding And Clenching

Are you already concerned about your smile because of wear and tear, or because of visible chipping or cracking? After an evaluation, Dr. Browne can determine if you are better served by cosmetic dental work or restorative treatment. Cosmetic services can improve your smile while minimizing changes to your tooth structure. By performing a tooth bonding and contouring procedure to improve your appearance, we can resolve esthetic problems in as little as one appointment. If damage is too serious, we may need to provide dental crowns for teeth in poor shape.

Talk To Your Prairie Village, KS Dentist About Your Nightly Teeth Grinding Issues

Dr. Browne is prepared to help individuals who struggle with nightly teeth grinding and clenching. If you have questions or concerns about this issue, or if you wish to discuss any other oral health matter, you can contact our Prairie Village, KS dental office today at 913-901-8585.