Chronic stress can tax the body in a variety of different ways. It can also cause you to unconsciously clench and grind your teeth while sleeping. The excess pressure and forces applied to the biting surfaces of your teeth can sometimes exceed the strength of your tooth enamel.
Once a tooth has been chipped or fractured, the compromised area of tooth enamel could gradually start residual plaque and food material. In time, a large cavity could start to develop deep inside the already weakened tooth.
As time goes on, the residual tension in your jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints can also contribute to TMJ disorder symptoms. One easy and effective method for preserving the integrity of your teeth and temporomandibular joints is to sleep with a quality dental guard in your mouth. This is a soft, yet durable mouth piece that cushions the biting surfaces of your teeth, while allowing a slight amount of slip.
Not only will this protect your teeth from harm, but it can also lessen the impact on your temporomandibular joints. Even if it doesn’t completely alleviate TMJ disorder symptoms, it can help reduce their overall severity. Let one of our professionals, Dr. Greg Heuler, Dr. Voegele. or Dr. Diana Lyu, assess you for the treatment you need.
If you live in the Savage, Shakopee, or Eden Prairie, MN, areas and you need a dental guard to protect your mouth from further night grinding complications, you should call 952-226-7940 to schedule an appointment at Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today!