Effective Teeth Grinding Treatment in Aurora, CO
Do you have a problem with teeth grinding? Whether you do it knowingly or not, this bad habit could cause severe problems to your teeth. You need to find a solution before it’s too late. The good news is Southland Smiles offers teeth-grinding treatment in Aurora, CO, to help protect your smile.
What is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding or bruxism is the dental condition of grinding, clenching, or gnashing the teeth when asleep or unknowingly during the day. It can be a result of stress or happen when a person is feeling negative emotions like anger and anxiety. People with bruxism are usually not aware of their condition. Instead, those close to them (partners, family members, workmates, etc.) are the ones who notice the teeth grinding.
Other possible causes of teeth grinding include alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking, drinking caffeinated beverages, anti-anxiety medications, and sleep apnea.
What are the Symptoms of Teeth Grinding?
If you are unsure of whether or not you have bruxism, here are the symptoms of teeth grinding that can help confirm the condition:
- You have chipped, fractured, loose, or flattened teeth.
- Your teeth have worn enamels.
- Tooth pain and sensitivity when biting.
- You feel tightness in the jaw.
- You experience a locked jaw when eating or speaking.
- Soreness on the jaw, face, or neck.
- Frequent bites on the inside of the cheek.
- Your temples ache after waking up.
- You experience sleep disruptions.
You should immediately see a dentist if you feel any of the symptoms mentioned. Teeth grinding could lead to further complications like sleep disorders, tooth erosion, and Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder if left untreated. Here at Southland Smiles, we provide teeth-grinding treatment in Aurora, CO, to help protect your teeth from bruxism and further dental issues.
How to Treat Teeth Grinding
Diagnosing bruxism includes a physical examination, looking at the symptoms, and a sleep study (polysomnography) in some cases. After you consult with our dentists and you are diagnosed with severe teeth grinding, they will advise or perform any or all of the following teeth-grinding treatments:
- Wearing a mouthguard – A mouthguard is a hard plastic appliance worn on the upper teeth to prevent damage when you clench your teeth. Although it is not a direct solution to teeth grinding, it helps alleviate the symptoms that can cause further dental issues.
- Stress management therapy – It consists of a group of strategies, techniques, and programs to help you deal with stressful situations and teach you better ways of responding to them. Managing stress can help reduce the frequency of teeth grinding.
- Muscle relaxants – Taking these medications before bedtime can help prevent teeth grinding during sleep. However, the dentist might prescribe this temporarily.
- Botox – Botulinum toxin injections can relax your muscles and alleviate bruxism-related pain. The effects can last for up to three or four months.
If you are a heavy drinker, chain smoker, or have a fondness for recreational drugs, slowing down or stopping the addiction can have a positive effect on a teeth-grinding treatment.
Alleviating Discomfort from Bruxism
Here at Southland Smiles, we recommend regular dental visits to treat any dental damage caused by teeth grinding. Our dentist can also provide you with effective teeth-grinding treatment.
Scheduling a dental appointment with Dr. Keturka is easy. Just call 720-782-8639 or click here to schedule today. We look forward to serving you and establishing excellent dental health.
