A Perfect Smile Orthodontics

McAllen Orthodontist providing Braces & Invisalign

Call: 956.630.6166
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Teeth Grinding and Braces: Are they compatible? Here’s the scoop.

Teeth grinding and bracesThere’s a lot to know about teeth grinding and braces. First, can you even get braces if you grind your teeth? If you can, then do braces help, or can teeth grinding affect braces negatively? And what causes teeth grinding in the first place?

Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a common issue. And can cause plenty of problems — whether you’re aware you’re doing it or not!  

Why do people grind their teeth?

While there’s no single cause for teeth grinding, many things can contribute. These include:

  • Stress: When you’re dealing with chronic stress or anxiety, you may clench your teeth as a coping mechanism.
  • Medical conditions: Teeth grinding has been linked to TMJ disorders or an ear infection that affects the jaw muscles.
  • Sleep disorders: People with sleep apnea experience teeth grinding more often than those without this sleep problem.
  • Teeth misalignment: You’re more likely to grind your teeth when your upper and lower teeth are not aligned.

How can you tell if you’re grinding your teeth?

Since teeth grinding can often be unconscious, you may not know how to tell if you’re doing it. To help you, the Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms:

  • Your sleep partner wakes you up due to loud teeth clenching or grinding
  • Flattened, fractured, chipped, or loose teeth
  • Worn tooth enamel which exposes deeper layers of your tooth
  • Increased tooth sensitivity
  • Jaw or face pain or soreness
  • Tired or tight jaw muscles
  • Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s not a problem with your ear
  • A dull headache originating in the temples
  • Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
  • Indentations on your tongue
  • Your mouth won’t open or close completely

If you suspect you may be grinding your teeth, call us for a consultation. We can examine your mouth and jaw for signs of teeth grinding.

What problems can teeth grinding cause?

Grinding your teeth can cause many issues, such as surface tooth damage, erosion of tooth enamel, disrupted sleep (primarily for your sleep partner), jaw or face pain and muscle tightness, and headaches. 

Plus, if you grind your teeth over a long period and don’t get any correction, this may cause teeth to break, become loose, or shift their alignment. Chronic teeth grinding can also result in needing root canals, crowns, or even tooth extraction. 

That’s why it’s so important to get help for teeth grinding. And often, if the grinding is caused by a misalignment, braces can help. 

Teeth grinding and braces

Braces — whether metal or Invisalign — will realign and straighten your teeth, so they fit together better. When this happens, many people no longer feel the urge to grind their teeth.

However, you should know that if your teeth grinding is severe, braces may make things worse before they get better. That’s because you may have some extra irritation or discomfort as your teeth begin shifting and realigning. But this should improve as the teeth move into their correct position.

Once your teeth are correctly aligned, you’ll need to use retainers, so they don’t return to their former position. If you don’t use retainers to keep your teeth straight, the problem of grinding teeth can return as the teeth shift back to their uneven state.

The best way to know if braces can help with your teeth grinding is to get an orthodontic consultation. That way, we can see if misalignment is causing your grinding issue, and show you exactly how braces or Invisalign can help you. 

Additional solutions 

Sometimes, when teeth grinding is caused by other issues (such as those mentioned above), you may need a different solution. These may include managing your stress and anxiety with help from a licensed professional, or addressing sleep apnea with a qualified medical doctor. 

Additionally, if you’re still grinding your teeth even with braces, you may need to wear a nightguard to prevent tooth damage. These can be custom-made to fit perfectly over your braces, and new ones can be provided as your teeth shift and your smile improves. 

We can help you resolve your teeth grinding

Come in for a consultation to address whether your teeth grinding is caused by a misalignment. Dr. Taylor and our team at A Perfect Smile will take the time and care to see if braces or Invisalign could be the solution to address this often painful issue.

The first appointment is always free and includes an exam, including x-rays. Our state-of-the-art facility is up to date on all the latest technology, so you can feel confident that you are getting the very best care. Our staff is both professional and fun, and we strive to make your experience smooth and enjoyable!

Get Started Now! Schedule Your Free Consultation! 

Call us at 956.630.6166, or complete the form below now!

  • We are located in McAllen Texas and are happy to service you at our clinic, A Perfect Smile Orthodontics.

May 27, 2022 By Anne Hill Leave a Comment

Signs you may need to see an Orthodontist

Crooked teeth aren’t the only reason to see an orthodontist. There are other issues that can affect the bite, jaw and tooth health which can have adverse effects on overall long-term wellness. If left untreated, some conditions can lead to increased tooth decay, gum disease, headaches, earaches, biting and chewing problems, and can even cause trouble speaking.

Signs that you may need to see an orthodontist may include:

  • Chewing or biting difficulty
  • A jaw that makes sounds such as popping or clicking noises
  • A jaw that shifts with movement
  • Cheek biting
  • Jaw pain, or TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction)
  • Uneven or excessive wear on teeth
  • Frequent headaches that may radiate to the ears or neck
  • Overbite
  • Underbite
  • Teeth that either meet abnormally or do not meet at all
  • Grinding teeth
  • Teeth that seem out of proportion to the face
  • Extra teeth
  • Crowding teeth
  • Spaces between teeth
  • Trouble chewing certain foods

These can be symptoms of such conditions as malocclusions, misaligned jaws, and teeth. Different types of malocclusions such as crossbites, underbites, overbites, and open bites will grow worse over time. They can place extra stress on the jaw muscles causing chronic pain in not only the jaw, but also the neck and shoulder. If a malocclusion is not corrected, it can even cause the face to grow asymmetrically.

Dr. Taylor is a board certified orthodontist and an expert who is trained to diagnose and treat these irregularities. It’s a good idea to have your child come in for a visit at age 6 to 7 to see if any of these irregularities are presenting. Depending on the severity of the condition, Dr. Taylor can determine if early intervention is necessary or if it’s okay to wait until the child is a little older.

Ideally, the best time for a child to get braces is between the ages of 10 and 14 while the child’s jaw and head are still growing. Teeth are easier to straightening during this time period too. However, a person is never too old to see an orthodontist and have any issues corrected; we have many adult patients who are much happier and more confident with their beautiful new smiles after treatment! A lot of them are surprised to learn that there are so many options available that fit easily into their lifestyles.

We offer several different braces options for both children and adults. Invisalign® is often a perfect choice since the trays used are almost totally invisible. Dr. Taylor is the Valley’s only Invisalign® premier provider. If for some reason you are not a candidate for Invisalign® and are concerned about braces showing, we also offer clear braces which a lot of adults prefer.

Traditional metal braces are much smaller than they used to be making them easier on the mouth and less obvious than in years past. A lot of kids and teenagers enjoy making them more fun with the use of colored bands and can change the look with each adjustment appointment!

Dr. Taylor and our team at A Perfect Smile invite you to come in for a consultation to address whether or not you or your child have conditions which may not be as obvious as crooked teeth, but which will affect long-term health if not addressed.

The first appointment is always free and includes an exam including x-rays. Our facility is state of the art and up to date on all of the latest technology so you can feel confident that you are getting the very best care. Our staff is both professional and fun and we strive to make your experience with us as smooth and enjoyable as possible!

September 15, 2018 By Debbie Baumgarten Leave a Comment

Best Braces for Adults

With braces there are many options to choose from, depending on your lifestyle and budget. 

Adults who make public appearances or interact with clients may prefer Invisalign Clear Aligners for aesthetic reasons. This treatment involves the use of clear, molded plastic upper and lower teeth trays that fit your teeth through each straightening stage, which is about one week per set. This series of clear, removable orthodontic aligners straighten your teeth without the use of metal or wires. Each custom-made aligner moves the teeth progressively into place. The number of trays or “aligners” depends on how much straightening you need.

Invisalign has been referred to as the “sexy” version of traditional braces as they’re almost undetectable when you’re wearing them. Because they’re a smooth plastic, they shouldn’t irritate the insides of your mouth. You may have achy issues as your teeth begin to shift with each pair of aligners, but it usually doesn’t take long for you to adjust. They’re easy to clean, partly because you have to remove them before eating, and because they’re removable, you can brush and floss without issue.

However, treatment with Invisalign requires a certain level of discipline. As they are removeable, one may be tempted to not wear them at times. Invisalign treatment requires one wear the aligners 22 hours per day, otherwise treatment may drag out for years.

If you lack discipline, you may want to consider Clear Braces for adults. They are similar to traditional braces but, rather than using metal, clear braces are made of incredibly strong clear material, making them less noticeable. Our clear braces perform beautifully for our patients. The material stays crystal clear throughout the treatment and does not yellow or stain.

If you are on a tight budget, traditional braces for adults are your best option. Traditional braces have come a long way since you were a kid. Braces have evolved over the years. The brackets used today are smaller, and no longer are bands that wrap around the tooth used. Now, the options are lighter, more comfortable, cheaper, and less noticeable.

Any braces for adults are better than no braces

In addition to the aesthetic reasons for straightening your teeth, there are important health reasons for treatment with braces. It shouldn’t be considered a luxury or “just cosmetic” — not that that’s not important for one’s self-esteem and confidence.

When you have misaligned teeth, plaque and food buildup between your teeth which can make you more prone to gum disease and increased chances of tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel and TMJ/TMD pain. Even migraines or other chronic pain in the head, neck and jaw can be caused by misalignment of the jaw. So there are real health reasons to straighten your teeth, in addition to having a more confident, beautiful smile.

May 22, 2017 By Debbie Baumgarten Leave a Comment

How to know if you have a bite problem?

bite problemBite Problems or problems with how your teeth fit together can occur in different ways.  Some bite problems can cause quite a bit of discomfort or pain. You may not even realize that the pain you are experiencing has anything to do with your teeth or bite alignment. 

You should be able to bite hard and grind your teeth together in all directions without feeling discomfort in any tooth or jaw area if your bite is good.  

Bite Problem Symptoms

Some bite problems can cause pain in the jaw area or your ear, it can cause headaches and even sinus pain. It can at times result in clenching your teeth or grinding your teeth at night. You can even do some serious damage to your teeth if your bite is not properly aligned.

Teeth that are sensitive to cold often get that way by taking an extra pounding if any part of that tooth strikes before the rest of the teeth contact during closure.  

If a new filling or crown is  too high, it may hurt when you clench your teeth, in which case it is probably not in perfect harmony with a correct bite.  

Biting on a “high” filling or crown can cause the tooth to become tender or sore, and often also causes the tooth to be sensitive to cold.  In addition to the sore tooth, the jaw muscles may also become sore as they try to avoid striking the high tooth.

Severe Wear

Look for severe wear on your teeth, as this is likely another sign that your bite is not in harmony.  If you have worn all the enamel off the edges of your teeth, you will see a darker colored surface.  This is dentin and it will wear down seven times faster than the much harder enamel that you’ve already worn through.  If you come in, we can evaluate what is causing this wear.  It can be especially damaging when it is on your front teeth, so if you notice your lower front teeth have worn down to dentin, have your bite checked.  Better yet, don’t wait till all the enamel is gone.  Correcting your bite may stop or at least slow down the wear process.

If the wear on your lower front teeth continues the nerves will be exposed and the teeth can become abscessed.  Wear that is this severe requires expert correction of the bite as well as restoration of the severely damaged teeth.

There are simple ways to detect when a problem with the bite is causing or at least contributing to pain or discomfort. You can come in to A Perfect Smile Orthodontics for a free consultation or, better yet, an examination and we can determine look into any bite problems and assess the degree of any malocclusion. And we can discuss all options with you to correct the problem.

February 3, 2016 By Debbie Baumgarten Leave a Comment

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Dr T & the whole staff are amazing, warm & caring environment. I get to see my baby smile now. Shes has gained so much confidence since starting treatment. Love you all & thank you so much.-Cassandra W

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A Perfect Smile Orthodontics
1400 E Expy 83 #155
McAllen,
TX 78503
956.630.6166

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