It’s inevitable that patients’ teeth will wear down to some extent over time. Dental enamel is subjected to oral acids and pressure each day, and this will cause enamel to thin and potentially break down. A common condition called bruxism can actually speed this process up, and lead to premature dental deterioration. Our Tinley Park dentist office is proud to help patients conquer bruxism and achieve healthy, comfortable smiles.
Imagine if you had two rocks and you rubbed them back and forth again and again over a period of years. Eventually those rocks would begin to wear down and thin. Well, patients with bruxism clench their teeth or rub their teeth back and forth through the day and often the night. This weakens the dental enamel (the top, strong layer of the tooth). Over time bruxism can lead to cracks and chips in the enamel, darkened tooth appearance, and increased dental infections.
So to protect your teeth, you need to first minimize the bruxism behaviors as much as possible. And then, make sure to protect your dental surfaces so that if you do exhibit bruxism behaviors, it doesn’t damage your enamel.
Luckily there are dental treatments available to help you meet these goals. Unobtrusive oral appliances can relieve pressure on your teeth and help you avoid dental grinding. You can additionally take steps to reduce stress/tension levels and correct misaligned bite surfaces—both of these steps will help to discourage bruxism behaviors.
Call our Orland Park dentist office if you’d like to schedule your own dental consultation for bruxism. We’ll evaluate your teeth for current damage due to bruxism, and help you develop a treatment plan that will keep your smile strong and healthy for years to come. So although you’ll never be able to avoid dental wear and tear all together (no one can!), by treating bruxism promptly you can prevent premature dental aging.