Leaving Bruxism Untreated Can Lead to Lifelong Issues
Posted on 5/10/2018 by Dr. Janice Pliszczak
There are tons of people out there who suffer from bruxism. This is when you grind or you clench your teeth. Many of the people who suffer from bruxism do not even realize they have it.
This can make it very difficult to treat. The only way most people find out about it is they either start to experience pain and get that pain checked out, or they have it diagnosed when they come in for a cleaning and exam.
We want to make sure you understand the dangers that come with not taking care of bruxism if you have it.
Bruxism Leaves Your Teeth in Shambles
Bruxism is a process where you either push your teeth together with incredible force, or you grind them back and forth across each other. Neither of these is good for your teeth. The result of doing either of these activities is damaged teeth.
What happens is that when you grind your teeth, you wear down the enamel. When you clench your teeth, you cause microfractures in your tooth's enamel. Both of these lead to problems that accumulate over time as you continue to do these activities.
When left untreated, your bruxism can increase your chances of developing gum disease, can leave your teeth incredibly sensitive, and can also result in tooth loss.
The only way to really treat bruxism is by using an oral appliance to keep your teeth apart when you tend to hurt them most. For most people, this is when you sleep. We can help if you make sure to come in and see us regularly.
There are patterns on the teeth that show up in people who struggle with bruxism. As your teeth wear down or show minor cracks, we can see those signs and help treat the problem before it gets worse. Call us today for more information.