Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. There are millions of people in the US who suffer from teeth grinding. This common problem can do a lot of damage to your teeth. Even if you are good about what you eat on a daily basis, and you brush and floss diligently, bruxism can undo all of that hard work and damage the enamel of your teeth.
How Can You Stop Bruxism?
Bruxism can cause damage to your teeth, and can also cause tension in the jaw and facial pain. If you think you grind your teeth, then you should see your dentist for advice.
At Dentistry on Broadway we have many years of experience with treating bruxism, and can tell you with confidence whether it looks like you do indeed grind your teeth. We can offer help to reduce the pain and mitigate the damage. Many people can benefit from using a mouth guard or a splint to reduce the damage to their teeth, and there are other techniques that can potentially stop the grinding too.
Sleep Hygiene and Relaxation
Bruxism is often related to stress or anxiety, or to poor sleep hygiene. Simple techniques such as CBT, meditation, and avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, and stimulants before bed can help to reduce teeth grinding behaviors in many people.
The Importance of a Properly Fit Mouthguard
For other people, choosing a properly fitted mouthguard can make all the difference. Do not be tempted to make do with a store-bought mouthguard. Even a boil and bite mouth guard may not actually be suitable for bruxism treatment. Boil and bite mouth guards may be OK for temporary use for sports, but if you are going to sleep while wearing a mouthguard then it is vital that it has been properly fitted for suit your bite, and that it is thin enough to not interfere with your bite in the long term.
We have seen many cases of people who have developed a poor bite because of teeth grinding or because they wore improperly fitted dental devices. Fixing those issues can be difficult and expensive compared to simply using the correct treatments from the outset.
If you have sensitive teeth or are worried that you grind your teeth, call us today to book an appointment so that we can help you to solve the problem before too much damage is done to your teeth enamel. Our dental specialists are always happy to help.
