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After a peaceful night’s sleep, you can feel refreshed and ready to take on your day’s activities. However, you may feel less than wonderful when you wake up after a night of grinding or clenching your teeth. This unconscious habit can cause wear and tear that changes your smile, and it can put stress on your jaw joints and muscles that can cause chronic discomfort. At our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office, we are prepared to help people who struggle with this issue. Bruxism, when it is not addressed, can cause more than just discomfort and mild wear and tear. Eventually, the pressure you place on your teeth can cause damage that calls for restorative dental work.

How Much Harm Can A Nightly Teeth Grinding Habit Really Cause?

You may be surprised at just how much damage bruxism can lead to when it is not addressed. The more nights you spend grinding and clenching your teeth, the more wear and tear your enamel must endure. At first, this can cause unwelcome cosmetic changes, as your teeth can start to look flat or misshapen. However, as the problem intensifies, it can cause chips or cracks that cause issues with your dental health. You also have to worry about the impact that this problem can have on your jaw joints and muscles.

Using A Custom Appliance To Stop Nightly Grinding And Clenching

A custom oral appliance can successfully stop bruxism from doing more harm to your smile. At our practice, we will provide a custom appliance that has been made to fit your teeth comfortably and remain in position. When you have your appliance in place, it will keep teeth apart while you are at rest. This separation can also prevent problems with mounting stress on your joints and muscles caused by nightly clenching and grinding.

Discussing Your Treatment Options If Your Teeth Are Already Damaged

For those who have already noticed changes in their smile because of teeth grinding, we can discuss treatment options like tooth bonding, which can carefully change tooth shape and size to make your smile more attractive. We can also use porcelain veneers to cap any teeth that are visibly worn or damaged. Before selecting a specific procedure, we can evaluate your teeth and see if it is necessary to provide dental crowns to address more serious damage.

Talk To Your Mansfield, TX Dentist About Treating Bruxism

With the appropriate treatment, we can help patients avoid long-term consequences caused by bruxism and also address any issues that have already occurred. Remember that waiting to deal with this problem can lead to complications, which can mean more involved care over time! To find out more about how we can help you, please reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates by calling 817-473-6227.