Bruxism or clenching and grinding your teeth while sleeping can devastate your teeth.
That’s why the Louisville dentists at Exceptional Dentistry can prescribe a customized nightguard worn to protect your teeth against further damage.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you could have bruxism:
- Do you frequently wake up suffering from a headache or jaw soreness?
- Do you notice you grind your teeth when you are awake?
- Are the chewing surfaces of your teeth worn?
- Do you experience intermittent pain in your teeth with no other explanation?
- Does your partner observe you grinding your teeth while you sleep?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from bruxism.
Let’s learn more about bruxism
Anxiety and stress are the most common culprits behind this behavior.
Bruxism also may manifest from certain oral health disorders, including:
- Malocclusion, which is also known as a bad or misaligned bite
- Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ disorder
- Sleep breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea
How can bruxism compromise your oral health?
Bruxism is more common than you might think. The American Sleep Association estimates that 10% of adults and up to 15% percent of children in the United States suffer from bruxism. That equates to more than 30 million people, many of whom never realize they are suffering from the disorder because they do it as an unconscious habit while they sleep.
The damage of bruxism comes from the excess force exerted on your teeth. Up to 10% of all individuals with bruxism grind their teeth down to nubs, requiring total reconstruction. A patient with severe, untreated bruxism may experience as many as 600 pounds of additional force per square inch being exerted on their teeth. Excessive tooth wear is one of the major warning signs of bruxism.
Treating your Bruxism in Jeffersonville
If you think that you suffer from bruxism or you experience symptoms of clenching and grinding your teeth, then you should seek the care of one of the professional, experienced dentists at Exceptional Dentistry. They can evaluate whether you have bruxism and prescribe a custom-made nightguard that you can wear while sleeping to protect your teeth against additional damage.
We prefer to treat bruxism by prescribing our patients a nightguard to be worn during sleep. This is a customized, high-quality mouthpiece made of better materials than the nightguards and anti-snoring mouthpieces you can purchase over the counter in stores. Our nightguards also are more durable and made to fit your mouth comfortably. We design your nightguard from impressions of your teeth and mouth—making for a snug, comfortable, and effective fit. When worn, the nightguard protects your teeth from additional damage caused by bruxism.
Care Instructions for your Nightguard
- Bring your oral appliance with you to each dental check-up at our office so that a team member can inspect for signs of wear or damage.
- Clean your nightguard at home by brushing it with your toothbrush, then rinsing it in a denture cleaning solution once a week.
- Make sure to rinse out the night guard using only tepid water; hot water can warp it.
- Store your night guard in a dry container where air can access it.
Treating Bruxism in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Shepherdsville and Louisville, Kentucky
Bruxism can wreak silent destruction on your teeth. The team at Exceptional Dentistry can help. To find out more about protecting your teeth against bruxism, call (502) 423-7868 to schedule your consultation today.
