There can be many different causes of bruxism. For example TMJD can be the cause of bruxism, because the TMJ controls your mouth’s ability to open and shut your jaw. If something is wrong with your TMJ, your teeth could grind. Other causes can include acid reflux, sleep disorders, misaligned teeth, and anxiety and stress.

While it may be difficult to assess exactly what causes bruxism, there are a few treatment options available. For instance, a common treatment from bruxism is a custom made mouthguard. However, if your bruxism is mild, treatment won’t usually be necessary. However, a dentist may also correct misaligned teeth or help you address your other issues.

While bruxism may not seem like a serious issue, it can lead to significant trouble—and can be difficult to recognize. To help you avoid these problems, we encourage you to schedule frequent checkups with our team.

If you think you may have bruxism, or are simply interested in scheduling a checkup, please don’t hesitate to contact MI Roots Family Dental at 616-453-0002. Dr. Joseph Szymczak and our team will gladly answer any questions you may have. We’re excited to hear from you!

The post What to do About Teeth Grinding first appeared on MI Roots Family Dental.

To help you better understand teeth grinding, we have provided information on the causes, risks, and treatments associated with bruxism:

Causes
There are many things that can cause teeth grinding. Some of the causes include stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, missing teeth, or crooked teeth. For children, causes generally involve irritations in the mouth, allergies, and teeth misalignments. Even though teeth grinding is a very scary habit and it should be treated immediately, children tend to grow out of the habit by the time they are teens.

Risks
If you do not treat this dangerous habit, your teeth could be severely damaged. You will also suffer from dull headaches, jaw soreness, loose teeth, and fractured chompers.

Treatments
Treatments for the teeth-grinding habit vary depending on the cause. Generally, night guards are the first treatment offered. Night guards should be worn while you sleep so when you clench and grind your teeth, your smile will be protected. Another treatment is relaxation medicine. This medicine will help you relax, which will help you avoid clenching and grinding. Other treatments include orthodontics, counseling, and exercise.

If you have any questions or if you would like to talk to Dr. Joseph Szymczak about your chances of participating in this habit, please call MI Roots Family Dental today and schedule an appointment. All you need to do is dial 616-453-0002 and we will be there to help you. We look forward to hearing from you!

The post All About Teeth Grinding first appeared on MI Roots Family Dental.