Teeth experience wear and tear on a regular basis, but despite their durability, they are not immune to damage. High amounts of pressure can cause serious dental concerns throughout your mouth.
Grinding or clenching your teeth creates this kind of pressure and poses a risk to an individual’s smile. Dr. Drew Shulman, a dentist in Northeast Philadelphia, emphasizes the importance of preventing dental damage by seeking prompt treatment for teeth grinding.
How Do I Know If I Grind My Teeth?
Patients often grind their teeth in their sleep, which means they may not realize that they have this habit. Their partners may report hearing teeth grinding during the night.
However, individuals may notice certain symptoms of teeth grinding even if they do not recognize the behavior itself. Patients may experience a sore jaw, headaches, earaches, or facial pain, especially when first waking. They may also have difficulty chewing or hear a clicking sound in their jaw.
What Happens If I Do Not Treat Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding can leave you with acute pain, but continued pressure can cause severe dental damage. The pressure of grinding can hurt the temporomandibular joint and cause further jaw pain with TMJ disorders.
The grating of the top row of teeth against the bottom row can also crack, chip, or fracture your teeth. This could require restorative dental solutions to repair and leave your teeth vulnerable to additional dental problems.
How Can My Dentist Help Me?
Your dentist can work with you to protect your smile from teeth grinding and clenching. They can create a customized mouthguard for you to wear overnight that will shield teeth and alleviate pressure from this behavior as you sleep.
The oral appliance fits securely to your unique smile so that you will not have to worry about it slipping out of place during the night. Your dentist can also examine your teeth and jaw alignment and develop a treatment plan if crooked teeth or other malocclusions may be causing your teeth grinding habit.
Teeth Grinding Treatment and More in Northeast Philadelphia
Dr. Shulman treats teeth grinding and any damage caused by this dental condition in patients in Northeast Philadelphia, PA. To schedule your next dental visit, contact our office online or give us a call at (215) 372-1142.