A Comfortable Way to Treat Teeth-Grinding
Grinding your teeth together can be a reaction to many things. If you’re stressed, angry, or straining yourself physically, then tightened jaw muscles can naturally force your upper and lower teeth against each other. Or, if your teeth are misaligned, then the imbalance can cause your jaw muscles to contract as they try to adjust your bite. Regardless of how it develops, bruxism can pose a serious risk to the health and integrity of your teeth. Therefore, treating it is a priority in keeping your smile healthy and avoiding the need for extensive restorative treatment.
The Benefits of a Bruxism Appliance
In some cases, the only way to treat bruxism is to undergo treatment for the underlying issue causing it. For instance, correcting an imbalanced bite can alleviate the stress on your jaw muscles that causes you to grind your teeth together. In many cases, however, bruxism treatment can be as simple as wearing a custom-designed appliance, or sleep guard, that prevents the upper and lower teeth from making contact. Because teeth-grinding most often occurs at night for bruxism patients, the guard is designed to be comfortable enough to wear while you sleep. If your teeth have already become worn down or cracked due to bruxism, then your treatment will also include an appropriate restoration to repair them and restore their healthy structure.
Get Help to Stop Grinding Your Teeth
If you have bruxism, then you may not always be able to consciously stop grinding your teeth. However, your dentist can help with a custom-designed oral appliance. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Peddicord Family Dentistry in Ankeny, IA, today at (515) 963-3339. We also proudly serve patients of all ages from Bondurant, Polk City, Elkhart, Alleman, Cambridge, and all surrounding communities.
