When most people think about protecting their smiles from damage, they think about preventing cavities and infections. Undoubtedly, infected teeth and gum tissues will wreak havoc on your smile, but there are other, less known, threats to your oral health as well. Today our Saint Louis dentists are reviewing one smile-damaging condition in particular: bruxism.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition that is characterized by chronic dental grinding and clenching. A bruxism sufferer may grind his or her teeth during the day or at night while he or she is sleeping. This subconscious habit puts an immense amount of pressure on your dental enamel and your temporomandibular joints.
How does bruxism damage smiles?
When your grind and clench your teeth, your top and bottom teeth rub together, which wears down your dental enamel over time. You may start to notice that your teeth develop small cracks and chips. As you dental enamel thins, it also becomes more susceptible to developing cavities and infections.
Additionally, bruxism can change how you top and bottom teeth come together over time. As your bite becomes misaligned, you may find that your teeth start to wear down prematurely and unevenly.
Our Saint Louis dentists can help you take control of your smile and manage chronic bruxism. Our dental team is here to help you:
· Address the underlying causes of bruxism, so that you are less likely to grind and clench your teeth
· Protect your enamel from damage when you do end up grinding or clenching
· Correct bruxism-related damage before it becomes more severe, and thus more difficult to treat
As always, our dental team can give you any additional information that you need. So, give us a call to learn more and to schedule a personal consultation with our dentists! You can also use the Contact Us page on our website to touch base with our dental team.