Most Common Problems That Come from Untreated Bruxism
Posted on 05/23/2018 by

When you find yourself grinding your teeth, it’s important to find a way of stopping it right away. If you leave it unchecked, it can result in some serious issues. This is why you should contact the experts at Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for help.

Common Problems Resulting from Untreated Bruxism

Grinding your teeth can put enough stress on them that you’re more likely to chip, crack, or fracture them. Over the long term this causes your teeth to become quite brittle and weak.

Your gums may also start recessing because you’re placing stress on them as well. Over time you’ll end up losing tissue along your gum line, which will in turn result in loose, sensitive teeth that may even fall out.

Dental abfractions are also common. These are small notches that form on your teeth around your gum lines. As you grind your teeth, these abfractions grow more pronounced, making your teeth more sensitive and weak.

This also makes them more prone to fractures and severe damage. All these things can make it hard for you to get a restful night’s sleep. Instead, you may experience headaches, earaches, and jaw pain. Additionally, you may experience some fatigue in the morning, which can result in daytime drowsiness and mood disorders that grow worse over time.

Treatment Options for Bruxism

There are a lot of different ways we can treat your bruxism. Sometimes we may need to combine several different treatment methods to address the cause(s) of the condition. The first thing we’ll usually do is prescribe a night guard – a retainer that you’ll wear at night while you’re asleep.

This will prevent your upper and lower teeth from having direct contact with each other, which will reduce the amount of pressure and damage that’s done when you grind your teeth. Restorative care and stress management techniques also play a major role in the treatment process too.

If you are experience tooth pain or would like to schedule an appointment, contact Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today at (818) 999-0900.