Functional Complications From Bruxism

Young man is grinding his teeth and looking angryThere is nothing more frustrating than getting a less-than-spectacular night of sleep. Indeed, you may have made all of the right moves: going to bed at a decent time, allowing yourself ample time to fall asleep and receive the much-needed rest, and so on and so forth. Unfortunately, sleeping disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, and bruxism can cause you to awake feeling exhausted and fatigued, even if you slept for a long period of time. What’s more? These issues, directly and indirectly, impact your oral health, believe it or not, which is why it is important to seek treatment immediately. But what are your options? In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist explores the damaging effects of chronic teeth-grinding on your oral health, and how our team can help.

What is Bruxism?

Though you, yourself, might not experience bruxism, you are likely to know one person in your life who does. Indeed, bruxism is the name given to chronic teeth grinding and is often characterized by tightly clenching the teeth together and moving the lower jaw from side to side. This process not only causes tension in the jaw but can lead to significant damage as well. If you suspect you are experiencing any of these effects, it is best to contact our team and learn your options sooner rather than later.

Though you might not have thought about it in this light, chronic teeth grinding is a sleep-related disorder. The reason for this is that even though it can occur while conscious or unconscious, it more often than not occurs when asleep as a natural defense mechanism for the body attempting to regulate your breathing. To learn more about this process and how our team can help, give our office a call today.

How it Impacts Your Health

As we mentioned before, teeth grinding can cause a number of oral health complications if left untreated. For example, the constant rubbing together can cause your structures to become weaker and more brittle, resulting in higher chances of breaking in cracking. Further, their sensitive nature allows more bacteria to set up camp and wreak havoc.

Another major concern that arises as a result of unchecked bruxism is the development of a dangerous jaw dysfunction known as TMJ disorder. Contact our team today to learn more about your options.

Understanding Your Options

Just like many other oral health concerns, chronic teeth grinding is best treated sooner rather than later, and our team is more than willing to assist. We can provide your options for treatment and future care, as well as discuss the benefits of an oral appliance to help protect your structures.

Learn More Today

To learn more about the dangers of untreated bruxism, contact SleepWell Houston in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 and schedule your next appointment with our team today.