Grinding Your Teeth in Your Sleep May Lead to Crooked Teeth
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common problem. Many people grind their teeth in their sleep, exacerbated by habits like snoring and sleep apnoea. The constant grinding will often damage the enamel, leaving your teeth exposed to cavities. It may also cause your teeth to become crooked.
Crooked teeth are an easy fix thanks to orthodontic appliances like Invisalign. Mismile, a dental network with practices in Oxford, recommend Invisalign for crooked teeth and minor malocclusions. Sometimes, straightened teeth and an improved bite can fix teeth grinding.
The Effect of Bruxism on Your Teeth
Teeth grinding often happens in people’s sleep, so many are either unaware of it or have no control over what they are doing. People usually clench and unclench their jaws while they sleep, adding pressure to the teeth. This causes them to shift visibly from their original positions. It is a gradual process that will eventually create misalignments in your smile.
Since bruxism also grinds away the enamel of the teeth, some affected patients will have to deal with cavities and worn down teeth. Eventually, the teeth may even fall out, as the constant pressure weakens the root.
How to Fix It
It is best to ask a dental practitioner for an opinion if you suspect you have bruxism. It can be costly to fix teeth grinding, as you will likely have to undergo several procedures to fix your damaged teeth. Your dentist will first have to clean out your cavities and patch up the damage.
The medical practitioner may even recommend a personalised mouth guard to protect the teeth at night and to keep the jaw in a relaxed position.
You can also fix teeth grinding by wearing orthodontic appliances such as Invisalign or wire braces. They will help align the teeth and the jaw so that you stop grinding your teeth in your sleep.
For some people, teeth grinding is brought about by stress. You may need to ask for the help of a psychologist to make it easier for you to deal with stress.
Your dentist can help you think of the best way to fix your bruxism so that you can prevent your teeth from shifting in your sleep.
