Grinding Teeth

Do you grind your teeth? Schedule a visit for Grinding Teeth with Herring Family Dentistry in Longmont CO.

Do you often wake up with a dull headache or a sore jaw? Do you sometimes find yourself clenching your teeth?

Until you experience pain, or have a dental checkup, you may not realize that you have a condition called Bruxism – a habit of grinding or clenching the teeth.

Regular Dental Checkups Can Detect Bruxism

Many patients are unaware they are grinding their teeth because often times it is occurring while they sleep. Grinding can wear away or fracture tooth enamel and may eventually loosen teeth.

Regular dental checkups are important to detect damage in the early stages. Dr. Herring can diagnose and treat irregular wear on teeth and determine the source of facial pain that may be induced by bruxism.

Bruxism Treatments

Dr. Herring may recommend one or more treatments. He may suggest wearing a night-guard that can be worn while sleeping. Night-guards are custom made of soft material to fit your teeth and prevents contact between them while sleeping. They will prevent the wearing down of your teeth, and the pressure of grinding and clenching which can damage delicate jaw joints.

If grinding your teeth is stress related, you may need to find ways to relieve your stress.

If your teeth grinding is caused by an abnormal bite, treatment may involve reducing the “high spots” on one or more teeth or reshaping, reconstructing the biting surface with crowns or inlays.