Bruxism is one of those often-overlooked threats to long-term oral health. When bruxism goes unaddressed, it can worsen over times, and the effects will compound.
The good news is that our Elmhurst dentists provide preventive and restorative treatment for bruxism-related issues. Keep reading to learn more about how bruxism presents, and what you can do to care for your smile.
Bruxism is defined as chronic dental grinding and clenching. Chronic grinding can occur for a number of reasons:
- People are more likely to exhibit bruxism during times of stress
- Bruxism can occur because the patient’s natural bite surfaces are poorly aligned—the patient thus moves his or her jaw back and forth in an effort to find a “comfortable” resting place for the jaw
- Many people actually grind and clench their teeth in their sleep, so they may not realize that they’re dealing with bruxism.
Keep your eyes open for signs of bruxism, including:
- Sore or stiff jaw muscles, especially upon waking
- Tooth soreness, unrelated to dental damage or infection
- Shifting bite alignment
- Headaches and/or neck/ear pain
When you meet with our dental team we’ll assess your smile in order to determine the root cause of your bruxism issues. Some people benefit from wearing protective mouth guards through the night. We may also recommend that you undergo treatment to improve your bite alignment—this kind of treatment can be absolutely transformative for some bruxism sufferers.
If you want to learn more about what bruxism is, and why it occurs, our dental team is here to help. You can also schedule a personal consultation with our Elmhurst dentist to get in-depth recommendations on how to move forward with your own treatment plan. Remember, when you’re able to seek timely treatment for Bruxism issues, you minimize your risk of dealing with long-term oral health problems related to chronic dental grinding.