Protecting Your Smile From Bruxism

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When it comes to protecting your smile, certain dangers can be harder to detect than others. Your morning and evening brushing routine can help you prevent the accumulation of cavity-causing plaque, but how do you know if you grind your teeth at night? This unconscious habit can increase your likelihood of gum disease and tooth decay by destroying the protective enamel layer of your smile while you sleep. You may not even become aware of this condition until it has done significant damage to your smile. If you believe you exhibit this oral health problem, also known as bruxism, let us know, and we can create a solution to protect your teeth while you sleep.

At your Prairie Village, KS dental practice, we can inspect your smile for signs of a nightly grinding habit. Repetitive clenching and chewing can break down the surfaces of your teeth, harming your smile’s alignment. To prevent this damage from progressing, we can design an oral guard to wear while you sleep. By separating each row of teeth, you relieve your symptoms and can rest assured knowing your bite is safe.

How Do I Know If I Grind My Teeth At Night?

While a tooth infection makes itself quickly known with a painful ache, how do you tell if you are grinding your teeth while you sleep? Consider asking a loved one to watch over you for signs of this habit. They could hear the sounds of teeth gnashing or see your cheeks moving as you clench and grind. By attending your regular dental checkups, we could also discover this habit by inspecting your teeth for physical signs of wear and tear.

Designing An Oral Guard To Protect Your Smile

Because each smile is unique, we can take measurements of your teeth to create a custom oral guard that fits comfortably as you rest. Made from a BPA-free material, this guard separates each row of teeth to relieve clenching from damaging your smile. You may wake up feeling more refreshed as the tension in your facial muscles relieves.

Repairing Damage From Constant Clenching

We could discuss cosmetic options to restore the appearance of your smile after creating your oral guard. If you have lost significant height of your teeth or they become chipped and cracked, porcelain veneers could restore a beautiful look in as little as two visits to our practice.

Speak With Your Prairie Village, KS Dentist About Treating Your Teeth Grinding Habit

When you visit the dentist regularly, you can detect problems such as bruxism more quickly. We could design an oral guard to help safeguard your smile from this unfortunate condition. To learn more about treating your bruxism, please contact your Prairie Village, KS dentist’s office at (913) 901-8585.