When it comes to learning that you need bruxism treatment, you may feel a bit confused. First, you may have had no idea that you were grinding your teeth – or clenching them – every day (or every night during sleep). To make matters more complicated, you might not receive the solid answer you were hoping for when you ask the question, “Why do I have bruxism?” The good news, however, is that we offer effective treatment that is extremely comfortable. While you can feel relieved that a healthier smile is on the horizon, you may find some additional solace in a few interesting details about this disorder.
Detail #1: There’s No Definite Cause
We can assist you in narrowing down potential causes of your need for bruxism treatment – however, there’s no single cause of bruxism. As a result, it’s often difficult to determine why it’s there. Common causes may include GERD, side effects of certain medicines, the result of stress, or misaligned teeth.
Detail #2: It’s Involuntary – Not An Intentional Habit
If you are well aware that you tend to grind or clench your teeth when you feel extremely stressed, this is something that we consider voluntary because you are doing it with intention. However, if you don’t even realize that grinding or clenching occurs, you are likely experiencing bruxism. Your muscles fire off on their own (involuntarily), which often results in discomfort and damage, the cause of which you cannot immediately pinpoint.
Detail #3: It Can Be Silent – But Dangerous
In some cases, someone will hear you grinding your teeth. However, this may not occur. As a result, if you miss checkups with us, bruxism may remain a silent part of your life that affects your oral health. When you fail to receive bruxism treatment, the disorder may lead to worn down teeth, fractured teeth, and/or TMJ disorder.
