Friday, December 30, 2016

Merry Christmas from the team at Cottonwood Dental


Have you ever wondered why we take X-rays?

 #CottonwoodFamilyDental #Dentist #DentalClinic #GeneralDentistry #DentalCare #CosmeticDentist #Orthodontist #Orthodontics #Braces #OralHealth #Teeth #DentalHealth #DentalCare #Floss #Flossing #Cavity #TeethCleaning #OralHygienist #MurrayDentist #MurrayOrthodontist #MurrayDentalClinic #MurrayUtah #Utah

Are you brushing your teeth thoroughly? Check out the image below to find out.


Friday, December 9, 2016

Why You Grind Your Teeth At Night—and How to Stop

 If you’re waking up with a dull headache, your teeth might be to blame
Feeling stressed can start in your mind, but the effects of it can quickly travel a few inches south to your jaw.
Since we tend to hold tension in our jaw and neck, continual anxiety can cause us to grind our teeth when we sleep. Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging. It's actually pretty common: 10 to 20 percent of adults deal with it, says Randy N. Downing D.D.S. So how do you know if you’re guilty of grinding? If you find yourself waking up with a dull Headache or an especially tense jaw, bruxism is probably to blame. The most common cause is stress, but bruxism can also be a side effect of a misaligned jaw or even some medications.
The issue with constant grinding is that it can really mess with your tooth enamel, making your teeth more sensitive.
The night grind can also cause or worsen temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a painful chronic inflammation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
TMJ is not necessarily a cause of grinding, though.
“People who have chronic TMJ pain are more likely to grind their teeth,” says Dr.Downing. “However, it’s a chicken and egg argument. We don’t know if TMJ pain causes one to grind their teeth or vice versa.”
So how can you avoid the painful effects? Aside from working on reducing your stress, avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to worsen the jaw tension.
You can also have your dentist fit you with a mouth guard to keep your jaw relaxed and prevent your teeth from grinding at night.
Even though getting one from your dentist might cost you a little more money than the ones you find at the drugstore (they can be up to a few hundred dollars), it’s worth it.
Ill-fitting night guards often don’t cover the back molars, and since teeth tend to move if something isn’t stopping them, you could end up with a misaligned bite.

Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging.