What is Bruxism?
One of the biggest causes of tooth damage is caused by bruxism; commonly known as grinding. Unlike certain animal species, human teeth are not replaceable; therefore, we need to make sure they will last us for the duration of our life. Fortunately, grinding is treatable if fixed on time!
Teeth go through a normal wear pattern as you age. It occurs every time teeth touch each other during the normal chewing process. Unusual habits that increase the frequency of biting cause excessive wear and tear of the enamel. Clenching and grinding our teeth are one of the most common habits that are detrimental to the longevity of our teeth. Many individuals are not even aware of such habits during the day—let alone during sleep.
Many people do not realize that the enamel (outer tooth layer) does wear out over the years. The enamel is irreplaceable and we need to keep the rate of wear to a minimum. It is crucial to minimize these effects. A night guard is an effective way to control the damage. A night guard is a hard piece of plastic that will rest on your upper or lower teeth. There are many different types of designs but they all provide the same protection. As you grind your teeth, you will only wear out the night guard. Although the guard is a hard material, your enamel is by far harder and only the night guard will wear away.
We take our teeth for granted but they are a very important part of our oral cavity that allows us to chew our food. It is important that we take proper care of them for a better quality of life. Your dentist should be able to determine if you are a “grinder” by carefully examining your teeth.
Give us a call to schedule an appointment and find out if you are a “grinder” and are in need of a night guard to protect your teeth before it is too late.
