Approximately 10% of people grind their teeth unconsciously as they sleep. While you may not notice the habit, this behavior could be harming the structure and appearance of your smile.
Your dentist can provide treatment to help you resolve this habit so that you can preserve your smile. Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh, a dentist practicing in Rockville, MD, discusses the oral health risks you may notice if you do not seek treatment for teeth grinding or clenching habits.
Alleviate Chronic Jaw Pain
The grating of top teeth against bottom teeth when you have a teeth grinding or clenching habit, also known as bruxism, creates an abnormally high amount of pressure. This pressure can lead to pain in your jaw.
Eventually, the pain can become chronic and develop into temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMJ. This condition may be accompanied by other symptoms like difficulty chewing, headaches, or a clicking sound in the jaw. TMJ will worsen without treatment from a dental professional, so you should discuss early signs of teeth grinding during your next dentist appointment.
Prevent Teeth Breakage
The heightened pressure on your teeth when you suffer from bruxism can lead to both structural and cosmetic damage to your smile. Grinding and clenching may cause teeth to chip, crack, or fracture.
Injuries of this kind could leave teeth vulnerable to infection, decay, or other dental problems. Minor teeth breakage can be amended with cosmetic dental solutions, but more severe damage could require restorative treatment with dental crowns.
Preserve Prior Dental Work
Most adults deal with at least one cavity during their lifetime, so a majority of people have dental fillings or crowns that protect their smile. Continuous teeth grinding can wear down fillings or dislodge a dental crown.
A broken dental crown can mean that underlying dentin is exposed and causing tooth sensitivity pain. If a filling no longer seals a cavity, you may be at risk of forming recurrent tooth decay. Treating teeth grinding can keep your smile healthy and help you spend less time in the dentist’s chair, repairing prior dental work.
Teeth Grinding Treatment and More in Rockville, MD
Congressional Dental Care treats teeth grinding and other dental concerns in patients located near Rockville, MD. Dr. Sarkarzadeh specializes in cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule a consultation or appointment with our practice, contact us online or reach our office by phone at 301.276.4694.