Protecting your teeth can help keep you out of your dental office!
Tooth sensitivity can be caused by the foods you eat and how hard you brush your teeth. Learn more about how to fix teeth sensitivity from food or brushing in this article, Tooth Sensitivity: How Your World Golf Village Dentist Can Help. However, the leading cause of prolonged tooth sensitivity in the residents of St. Augustine, Florida, is teeth grinding.
Teeth grinding is a destructive process and can be a sign of a bigger problem. We can create as much as 900 pounds per square inch of pressure on our teeth and the surrounding support system for the tooth while we sleep. This type of pressure can lead to sensitivity, receding gums, tooth loss, and even heart disease. It can also indicate that you may suffer from a sleeping problem known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Tooth grinding affects not just our teeth and gums, it affects our muscles as well. Overactive muscles can lead to headaches, neck aches, and backaches. If you can relax the muscles, most of these aches will disappear.
The first step is to get a night guard from our dentists, Dr. Steven Freeman and associates. Night guards are clear plastic trays that help protect your teeth, gums, crowns, and fillings. Most people clench and grind at night, so it is typically worn during sleep. If you do have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), then a different guard will be recommended. One that will not only protect your teeth, but will also keep your airway open. We refer to this as a nighttime oral appliance.
You should find that your night guard will greatly reduce your aches and pains, but you may notice that some pain remains. At that point, a day time appliance would be recommended in conjunction with your nighttime appliance. This way, you can keep your muscles relaxed 24 hours a day. Relaxed muscles don’t ache!
Don’t let your teeth grinding go untreated. You can learn more about the connection in our blog series, Tooth Sensitivity: Sleep, Grinding and Your World Golf Village Dentist or call today for your free consultation at 904-201-4304.
