Did you know that nearly 8% of Americans suffer from bruxism? If you’re one of them, or if you have a loved one who suffers from this condition, then it’s important to educate yourself on the facts. That’s why our Orland Park bruxism dentists have compiled this information!
Bruxism is a condition in which a person grinds or clenches their teeth involuntarily, and it can cause a variety of problems including tooth wear, jaw pain, and headaches. Thankfully, there are ways to treat bruxism and keep your teeth healthy.
The first step is to determine why, specifically, you are experiencing bruxism symptoms. It could be that your bite is poorly aligned, so your top and bottom teeth aren’t meeting evenly. Or you may grind your teeth when you are stressed or tired. Some patients grind their teeth at night, and they aren’t even aware that they are doing it.
If you notice yourself grinding your teeth during the day, please reach out to your dental team for help and support. Beyond that, if you notice discomfort or soreness around your jaw, frequent headaches, or jaw popping when you bite or chew, you would benefit from a bruxism assessment.
When it comes to treating bruxism, our dental team has a few goals. The first is to alleviate any dysfunction due to injury or poor bite alignment. Additionally, we want to take steps to protect your natural dental enamel from erosion or damage. For this reason we may recommend that you start wearing a protective mouth guard to shield your teeth during the night.
While bruxism can be pretty annoying, and sometimes even uncomfortable, it doesn’t have to stay that way for long. Please reach out to our Tinley Park bruxism dentists to schedule a consultation and assessment. We’re here to help you!