A big problem with teeth grinding is how it happens without realizing it. You can be sitting at work or driving around, when suddenly you notice how you’ve been grinding your teeth for minutes or even hours! This is not good, and you can be doing some real damage to your smile.

That’s why you need to call Dr. LoCascio today at 248-329-3552. With his expertise, training, and experience, he can help you protect your smile. Before getting treatment, it helps to look at the causes of teeth grinding.

Don’t Grind Away Your Smile

Everyone’s situation is unique, so the exact reasons why you grind your teeth can be unique as well. That said, here are some common causes of bruxism (the formal name for teeth grinding).

For many people, it happens when you are asleep. This can be part of a larger problem called TMD or TMJ where your jaw muscles tense up overnight. That leads to grinding your teeth. This is a problem because it creates a bad feedback loop. Grinding your teeth puts extra pressure on your jaw joints, which leads to more grinding, and so on.

Both TMD and bruxism can be caused by stress. If you push yourself too far, stress can make your muscles tense up. When this happens to the muscles in your jaw, you can start grinding your teeth without realizing you’re doing that. Anxiety is close enough to stress that it can lead to worn teeth as well.

You could also have this dental problem if your teeth are not in the right position. If your teeth are crooked or you lost a tooth, the teeth can brush against each other even when you’re not biting down.

Get Teeth Grinding Treatments in Highland

Then what can you do to stop this problem? One of the best teeth grinding treatments is a custom-made mouthguard. After getting a thorough exam, Dr. LoCascio will help measure your teeth and create a comfortable, plastic guard that fits over your smile. You wear this at night when grinding becomes a particular issue. These mouthguards also help correct for TMJ pain, treating two problems when you are asleep.

Why is this needed? It may be tempting to ignore things, but that is a bad idea. If left untreated, bruxism can grind away the enamel protecting your teeth. Cavities and chips are more likely to hit these weak spots, leading to more serious problems.

If you are grinding your teeth often, this can lead to headaches, jaw pain, and neck pain. That’s because you’re putting stress on muscles when they need to rest and heal naturally. And if you have any dental work such as crowns or bridges, you could be damaging those as well.

No matter the causes of teeth grinding, you need to take care of it. Contact our Highland, MI dental office today at 248-329-3552 or through our online form and make an appointment now. The longer you wait, the worse things can become.