Of the many things that can threaten the health and integrity of your teeth, such as tooth decay, many patients don’t realize that some conditions can make their teeth dangers to themselves. For instance, if you have bruxism (constant teeth-grinding), then you may notice that the surfaces of your teeth seem to be wearing down significantly. If left unchecked, this tooth wear can lead to several additional problems, including changes to your bite function and increased risks of extensive tooth damage. To address the problem, your dentist will help you determine why your teeth are wearing down, and what treatment may be best to help you stop.
Examining the Problem
Constant teeth-grinding has similar effects for everyone’s tooth structure over time, but there are many different aspects of the condition that are unique to each individual. For instance, the cause of bruxism, the extent of wear and/or damage to your teeth, and any other dental health conditions that can contribute to it will depend on your specific needs. Therefore, helping you stop grinding your teeth will require a thorough examination so your dentist can first diagnose the why. For many patients, that may include an imbalance in their tooth and/or jaw alignment, which leads to improper bite function and overly stressed jaw joints and muscles.
How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth
Once your dentist understands why you’re grinding and wearing your teeth down, he can help you protect your smile by recommending a highly personalized treatment option. For example, a custom-designed oral appliance can stop the tooth wear by preventing your teeth from grinding at night. If necessary, you might also benefit from orthodontic or TMJ treatment to correct your bite’s misalignment and the stress on your jaw’s that causes your bruxism. Over time, adherence to your treatment will help you correct the underlying causes of your bruxism so you can stop worrying about wearing down your teeth further.
Stop Wearing Down Your Teeth with Bruxism Treatment
If your grinding your teeth down because of bruxism, then ask your dentist about how to protect them with a custom-designed oral appliance. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
