If you've been under a lot of stress lately, you may have noticed that you've been clenching your jaw more often than normal. If you're clenching your teeth a lot, you may also be grinding them at night. That means you're dealing with bruxism, a type of stress outlet that can greatly damage your teeth. Very few people grind their teeth simply to grind them.
Normally, it's a sign of something else. While we may not necessarily be able to help you with the stress that's causing your bruxism, we can help you deal with the grinding of your teeth.
Why Is Bruxism and Teeth Clenching Dangerous?
When you clench your teeth tightly together, you're putting a lot of pressure on them. This isn't normal pressure like the type you exert when you're chewing food. Instead, it's often much stronger, and that can cause your teeth to crack.
If you've been grinding your teeth a lot at night, you may have already weakened them because the grinding can wear down your enamel. Without this strong enamel to protect your teeth from pressure, you can cause serious damage when you clench your jaw.
What Can We Do?
One of the ways we can help you deal with bruxism is to give you a special mouthguard to wear at night. This will prevent you from grinding your teeth, so you won't damage them. Once you're aware of what you're doing, you can also make a conscious effort to unclench your jaw if you find yourself doing it while you're awake.
We will also work with you to help restore the enamel of your teeth and protect your mouth from further damage. If you know you're clenching your jaw a lot or if you believe you're suffering from bruxism, call us today. We'll set up a consultation and help you deal with this damaging condition.