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Grinding of the teeth, also known as bruxism, is a serious condition from which nearly ten percent of Americans suffer. It’s a mechanical reflex that often happens during slumber. Unfortunately, most people don’t recall grinding their teeth when they awaken.

This makes it difficult to catch the condition before serious damage occurs. Some people notice soreness in their jaw, shoulder and neck pain, or even headaches. Others aren’t so lucky and don’t feel any pain until a professional notices they have developed cracked teeth, receding gums, and jaw problems.

Dr. Clay Gangwisch, Dr. Mike Grandy, Dr. Daniel Melzer, Dr. Andy Holtery, and Dr. John Miller and our team hope to prevent teeth grinding before serious health concerns arise. Let’s go over the reasons for grinding as well as preventive tips to help you feel better fast.

Why do you grind your teeth?

The most common reasons for teeth grinding include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Aggression
• Poor muscle control
• Acid reflux
• Sleep apnea
• Complications from certain disorders

It’s worthwhile to understand the reason you’re grinding your teeth, but it’s even more vital to treat the issue quickly. You can take measures to alleviate the pain you may be experiencing, such as applying a warm wash cloth to your jaw, taking muscle relaxants, massaging the jaw muscles, visiting a chiropractor, or doing physical therapy.

Prevention

To protect your oral health and jaw bones, try these preventive measures:

• Reduce the amount of stress in your life
• Drink plenty of water every day
• Avoid chewing gum or chewy foods
• Get plenty of sleep each night
• Reduce or stop alcohol and caffeine consumption
• Get a custom mouthguard from Bay Smile Docs

Dr. Clay Gangwisch, Dr. Mike Grandy, Dr. Daniel Melzer, Dr. Andy Holtery, and Dr. John Miller and our team want to make sure you’re properly treating your teeth grinding issues. Feel free to call our Lynn Haven or Panama City Beach office if you think you may be suffering from this condition, or have questions regarding a treatment plan.

Teeth grinding can lead to far more serious health issues, and should be ended before it becomes a major concern.

It’s a bit of a contradiction: you are justifiably proud of your beautiful dental work, but you don’t want it to be obvious when you smile. Dental prosthetics such as veneers and crowns should blend perfectly with your natural teeth. If you have noticed your veneers are a different shade than your other teeth, or have a crown that is visibly darker than the teeth surrounding it, you are probably wondering if there is any way to lighten and whiten an artificial tooth surface. There is no one right answer, but let’s examine a few common scenarios to find the best solution for you.

If You Haven’t Started Your Dental Work and Want a Whiter Smile

If you are planning on getting a veneer or a crown, it’s best to take advantage of teeth whitening before you have the work done. Choosing a shade of bright white for your veneers and then trying to whiten your natural teeth to match it afterward is almost impossible. It’s a good idea to talk to us about whitening beforehand, and, if this is the best way to achieve the look you want, Dr. Clay Gangwisch, Dr. Mike Grandy, Dr. Daniel Melzer, Dr. Andy Holtery, and Dr. John Miller can match the color of your new prosthetic to your newly whitened smile. The goal is to make your new veneer or crown a perfect match to your natural teeth.

If You Have Existing Veneers, Crowns, or Other Artificial Surfaces

Porcelain veneers cannot be whitened, but the good news here is that they don’t stain the way natural teeth do. Unlike our teeth, porcelain is non-porous, so it is very difficult for typical culprits such as coffee, tea, or red wine to have as much effect. Any surface stains that appear can usually be gently removed with a professional cleaning and polishing, where we will take care not to scratch the delicate surface of the veneer. Porcelain crowns and implants, like veneers, can be brightened with a professional surface cleaning, but their original color cannot be changed.

Composite veneers and composites used in dental bonding are more porous and therefore more likely to stain. They are also immune to whitening, but might respond somewhat to a careful professional polishing at our Lynn Haven or Panama City Beach office.

Finally, if the color of your existing dental prosthetics is a concern, replacement is an option we can consider together.

Whether you have existing veneers and crowns or are planning future dental work, please talk with us about achieving a seamless blend of old and new for a beautiful, natural smile. It’s a bit of a contradiction: the best work is the work no one notices!

Between the changing leaves, scary movies, and spending time with loved ones, there’s nothing we don’t love about the Halloween season! Our favorite part of Halloween is the costumes. We love to see so many kids wearing costumes and having fun. Last year, our staff members got in on the fun by dressing up as the children from the Despicable Me movies!

This year, you can count on us to go all out again with our Halloween costumes. Expect to see us dressed as characters from our favorite movies, including a fantastic rendition of The Karate Kid by Dr. Melzer. We still remember the very first Halloween Dr. Melzer spent with us, when he came into the office dressed as Dr. Gangwich. When Dr. Melzer was young, his dad used to make him vampire teeth from old dentures! He never fails to come up with the best Halloween costumes.

Some of our favorite candy around the office includes Twizzlers and candy corn. We may give out candy to trick-or-treaters this year, but only if you stay safe and promise to brush your teeth after! We hope everyone has a very Happy Halloween.

How better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Dr. Clay Gangwisch, Dr. Mike Grandy, Dr. Daniel Melzer, Dr. Andy Holtery, and Dr. John Miller and our team at Bay Smile Docs encourage you to warm up your mind this fall season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading when balancing a hectic schedule, but reading is vital to brain development. Besides, reading is always a blast!

This week, we thought we’d ask what you or your child are reading this fall. Do you have any suggestions for must-read books this year? Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian here in Lynn Haven or Panama City Beach for some ideas.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites below or on our Facebook page!