Everyday Habits That Can Negatively Affect Oral Health

Brown & Gettings, DDS, General Dentistry, Patient Education

At Brown & Gettings, DDS, we often speak about your oral and your overall health. We are committed to assisting our patients in restoring and maintaining their oral health over the course of their lives. Unfortunately, there are certain habits that can negatively affect their teeth and lead to serious complications with their oral health. We want to take a few moments to share what habits may be affecting your oral health so you can make the necessary changes as soon as possible:

What Is Bruxism?

Brown & Gettings, DDS, Patient Education

Do you have tenderness or pain in your jaw muscles? Are your teeth worn down, fractured or chipped? If so, you may have bruxism, a condition in which a person grinds their teeth involuntarily while not chewing. The teeth grind or rub together as the jaw moves forcefully either from side to side or back and forth. Often, the person is not aware that they are doing it. While it can happen during the day, bruxism typically takes place while you are asleep. Sleep bruxism is generally more severe due to the force applied during episodes, which can cause serious problems for the teeth and jaw.