Braces For Bruxism
Do you often feel pain in your jaw or face? Do you have soreness in or around your ear? Is chewing sometimes painful? These are all symptoms caused by the clenching or grinding of teeth, a condition known as bruxism. While it can be triggered by stress or anxiety, bruxism can also be a sign of a bite or tooth misalignment. Orthodontics can help with this uncomfortable but common problem.
It’s important to address bruxism because it can lead to more complicated dental problems, such as:
- Cracked teeth
- Broken fillings
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold due to worn down enamel
- Pain in the jaw
- Headaches
Individuals with crooked teeth or misalignment of the upper and lower teeth can be prone to teeth grinding. As a result, your teeth can get worn down and it can also damage your jaw joint, further exacerbating dental problems. With braces, however, we can prevent further damage to your teeth and correct the underlying dental conditions that caused bruxism to begin with. Braces will gradually shift your teeth into a better position which allows for bite force to be evenly distributed.
While braces can help with bruxism caused by a misaligned bite, you may still continue to clench and grind your teeth during treatment until your teeth and bite start to shift into a more desired position. In this case, we might recommend wearing a night guard. The night guard prevents your upper and lower back teeth from meeting. Not only will this prevent further wear on your teeth and jaw pain, it will also help protect your braces from the force of clenching and grinding.
At The Best Braces in Southfield, MI, we are happy to assist you in choosing the best orthodontic option for your dental needs. Please call our office for more information.
