You’ve woken up to facial pain, an earache, and a pounding headache. To make matters worse, you’ve noticed that some of your teeth are loose and one is chipped.
Now, imagine not being able to sip on your favorite morning coffee or the ability to take a big bite out of your favorite breakfast sandwich. Houston, we have a problem. Forget about going to work, you now have to call your local dentist because of your chipped front tooth. Do you even have a dentist? If not, here are three things to look for when choosing a dentist.
Wait a sec! Why would I need a dentist? These sound like injuries of a professional boxer or someone that plays a very physical sport. That’s true. But these symptoms belong to a more sinister opponent – one that doesn’t need to train nor eat healthy to wreak havoc on your teeth.
Well, sinister may be too strong of a word, but bruxism (teeth grinding) is nothing less than annoying. Its stealthy way of destroying your teeth is what makes it a complex disorder.
... you don’t have to brush all of your teeth to have a healthy smile, just the ones you want to keep.
Although it’s not fully understood what the causes are, there are two types of bruxism (awake and sleep), but they both are one and the same. Both include clenching or grinding of the teeth. Risk factors vary but type A personalities are more susceptible to having awake bruxism. So, all of you alpha males and females need to make sure to keep regular dental appointments, especially if you are competitive or have a stressful job.
The fact that you may have to spend thousands of dollars on needed reconstructive dental care is one reason to continue or start a regular exam and cleaning routine with your local dentist. He or she has the expertise and equipment to detect signs of bruxism.
Remember, you don’t have to brush all of your teeth to have a healthy smile, just the ones you want to keep.