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Tension, stress, and anxiety experienced during the daytime can carry over to an individual’s sleep and lead the person to grind their teeth or clench them unknowingly. Regardless of the cause, frequent clenching and grinding wears down the chewing surfaces of the teeth and reduces tooth enamel. With enough force, you can even crack or break teeth, resulting in the need for crowns and other dental work, fillings, or a root canal.
Bruxism refers to excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw, usually when one sleeps. If you wake up with jaw pain, tension, headaches, or facial pain, you may be suffering from bruxism.
Some people aren’t even aware they are grinding or clenching their teeth at night until a dentist’s visit reveals significant tooth enamel loss or damage to restorations. If you show signs of grinding or clenching and have chipped teeth or receding gums, our dentist may recommend a dental nightguard for you.
Our general dentist will custom fit you for a nightguard by taking an impression of your mouth and sending it to our dental laboratory to fabricate your custom nightguard. You can extend the life of your nightguard with proper home care and cleaning. Your dentist will want you to bring your nightguard with you to your dental checkups.
If you think you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep, call Lovett Dental now at 832.990.8754, or contact us online. We have numerous dental office locations to ensure that all families have access to our care.
