does anyone else grind or clench their teeth?

[Laura Wick]

Does anyone have any advice for someone who clenches their teeth in their sleep? I probably started doing this about four years ago, but didn't realize it until my dental hygienist mentioned that as a possible explanation for gum damage on my back lower molar. I now wear a guard provided by the dentist at night, but sometimes my jaw is sore in the morning!

[LIsaP]

I don't have any advice for you, but I have noticed myself doing this as well (clenching my teeth). Not only in my sleep-sometimes I notice that I am doing it during the day as well...I don't think it is related to stress for me, as I am not under stress at the moment...

[JanetB]

I have the same problem - and have had it since I was a little kid. I also have the mouthguard - and I have even managed to grind through it. I finally got the mouth guard after having to get two fillings after grinding through the enamel on two teeth. The dentist suggested eating something like an apple that will take effort before bed. It doesn't really work for me - but some people it does. It is also stress related - or so they tell me. Wish I could be of more help.

[LGBurns]

I too have this problem. My dental hygienist sister (not to be confused with my dietician sister -- I have a very useful group of siblings http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ) gave me some exercises that have been helpful. I'll try to describe them as best I can:

Do these in bed just before going to sleep

1) Clench your jaw as tight as you can for about 10-15 seconds and then release (let your jaw fall open if it wants to). Do this 3-4 times.

2) Rest your hand with the backs of your fingertips under your chin and your palm facing down. As you open your mouth, gently apply pressure with your hand to prevent your jaw for opening. Continue to apply pressure with your jaw and hand. Your mouth should only open about two finger widths. Rest and repeat about 3-4 times.

I hope these exercises help.

[MrsReber]

I'll have to let my husband know about these hints. He grinds his teeth so badly that the noise wakes me up. It literally sounds like a horse chomping on a bit. He's gotten 2 mouth guards - the first one was chewed up by his dog and the second one was chewed up by my dog. Very bad dogs. Anyway, he doesn't want to get another one, but he is grinding his teeth away to nothing. It's really bad. I don't think his is stress related. He's been grinding since he was much younger.

[phantomcg]

I also have a problem with grinding my teeth as well as a slight to moderate case of TMJ. My dentist gave me a mouth guard to wear and told me that the headaches I was suffering were very possibly from my TMJ and teeth grinding. The only thing (other than what's already been mentioned) that he did was to have me wear the mouth guard at all times other than when eating for the first 6 months. My mouth did hurt at the beginning, but now I wear it only at night and my headaches have all but disappeared.

Cheryl

[Laura Wick]

Dear LGBurns: Thanks so much for taking the time to reply with the exercises. I am going to print them and try them tonight. Do you do the first exercise while sitting up, or while lying down? How long before you noticed some results?

I've even thought about getting myself hynotized over this, as I had to have a tooth crowned due to the damage caused by the clenching! I'll let you know how I do.
Thanks again.

Originally posted by LGBurns:
I too have this problem. My dental hygienist sister (not to be confused with my dietician sister -- I have a very useful group of siblings http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ) gave me some exercises that have been helpful. I'll try to describe them as best I can:

Do these in bed just before going to sleep

1) Clench your jaw as tight as you can for about 10-15 seconds and then release (let your jaw fall open if it wants to). Do this 3-4 times.

2) Rest your hand with the backs of your fingertips under your chin and your palm facing down. As you open your mouth, gently apply pressure with your hand to prevent your jaw for opening. Continue to apply pressure with your jaw and hand. Your mouth should only open about two finger widths. Rest and repeat about 3-4 times.

I hope these exercises help.

[LGBurns]

I do both exercises lying down, but I don't think it makes a big difference. The key is to really let your jaw relax after the tension. I noticed a difference after a couple of weeks. I still grind, but not as often or as hard. My brother does these exercises and he hardly ever grinds anymore (according to his wife).

[marys]

I am also a grinder and manage to wake up my husband. At my dentist's suggestion, I had a bite adjustment because he thought my teeth weren't lining up when I bit down. After spending 2 hours in his chair having him grind tiny bits off my teeth and opening and closing my mouth (and spending a lot of money that insurance wouldn't cover) it didn't change anything. (Although it is nice to have my teeth fit together again!)

Those of you with mouth guards - do you notice a difference between the expensive one from the dentist and the $20 one from the drugstore that you fit yourself? My dentist wants to make me one but my insurance doesn't cover that either and he charges much more than $20!

[Laura Wick]

Dear MaryS The only mouth guard I have is the one provided by the dentist. It was over $300 for the fittings and the guard! I had no idea a cheaper alternative was available! If you try the type from the drug store, please let me know how it works.

Originally posted by marys:
I am also a grinder and manage to wake up my husband. At my dentist's suggestion, I had a bite adjustment because he thought my teeth weren't lining up when I bit down. After spending 2 hours in his chair having him grind tiny bits off my teeth and opening and closing my mouth (and spending a lot of money that insurance wouldn't cover) it didn't change anything. (Although it is nice to have my teeth fit together again!)

Those of you with mouth guards - do you notice a difference between the expensive one from the dentist and the $20 one from the drugstore that you fit yourself? My dentist wants to make me one but my insurance doesn't cover that either and he charges much more than $20!

[MrsReber]

My husband had 2 mouth guards. The first was over $300- the second one he got for less money, but he just about ground through it before my dog ate it. My sister also grinds and her dentist suggested she go to a sporting goods store and get a mouth guard there. They all seem to serve the same purpose. I guess if the dentist fits one, it simply fits your mouth better.

[food girl]

MrsReber,
There must be something about dogs and mouth guards! My sweet, sweet little dog wouldn't touch anything in the house, but he dug my mouthguard out of an overnight bag and chewed it to smithereens.

I have been wearing a mouth guard for about 7 years. I never knew that I was a grinder until I got married - it drove my husband nuts. If I forget to wear it I will have a headache the next day.

At first I felt like I was choking when I wore it, now I can drink water and even answer the telephone with it in.

I got the $50 version that the dentist makes as a guard for sports.

[MrsReber]

I heard that the dogs like to chew anything that has the owner's scent on it. Guess that makes sense. What weirdo dogs we have!

[luv2cook]

my new dog chews on something that's not his if he doesn't have a bone. He buried the **** thing in the yard, I'm guessing, but I can't find it!

[ReverbeReb]

I also clench and gring my teeth. My husband is a Periodontist and his advise is to seek help from a dentist or Periodontist. Unfortunately willing yourself to not grind does not work. The negative effects of grinding include worn teeth, sore jaw muscles, jaw joint popping and clicking, sensitive teeth and bone loss around the teeth. Left untreated this leads to severe headaches, restless nights, loss of teeth etc.
The dentist usually makes a "night-guard" which prevents the effects of grinding. Other treatments can be done but it depends on the severity of the grinding. Ask your dentist if he/she treats TMJ problems or have them refer to someone who does. Originally posted by Laura B. Wick:
Does anyone have any advice for someone who clenches their teeth in their sleep? I probably started doing this about four years ago, but didn't realize it until my dental hygienist mentioned that as a possible explanation for gum damage on my back lower molar. I now wear a guard provided by the dentist at night, but sometimes my jaw is sore in the morning!

[Luiza]

Amazing how many people have this problem. I wish I knew about it 3 years ago, when insane headaches, toothaches, and earaches had me practically incapacitated (and on codeine), and nobody could explain it. My dentist suggested that it was because of clenching my teeth, but the symptoms were simply too severe. In the end I had to have a root canal for one of my back teeth, and I ended up seeing an expert in this kind of problems, who said that the nerve died because of the clenching. What happens is that the teeth press on each other at an angle, not straight on, so you're practically pushing the tips of your teeth towards the gums, pinching and eventually killing the nerve. If the bite is not aligned (mine wasn't), one set of teeth takes all the pressure and the damage happens even faster. The role of the mouthguard is to even the pressure on your teeth, and you do need a dentist made one, as the sports guards from the drugstore are just to hold your teeth if somebody punches you in the face so they can be inserted later. There are hard splints (for the night), and soft splints (more like a retainer). Hard splints have the best results, but they do make you look and sound like an alien.

Basically, the doctor informed me that it's a chronic problem and I have to deal with it somehow, because he has patients that had root canals done for all their teeth and they are still in pain. That scared me sufficiently to take measures. I followed the doctor's orders: mouthguard at night, muscle relaxant pills, physiotherapy, and relaxation exercises (I took a Yoga class for those). After a year I stopped the pills, and now I just use the mouthguard, and do yoga regularily and occasional sessions of Shiatsu massage for maintenance. If I skip any of the above, I can definitely tell (and so can everybody else).

I guess I was an extreme case (although I met people since that wear a hard splint during the day as well! Ouch.). I'm just writing this post for information purposes -- I really wish I knew about this before I spent 6 months of my life in severe pain.

Luiza

[CathyS]

I too clenched/grinded my teeth at night. My dentist told me it was because of uneven surfaces on my teeth, which triggered the grinding reflex at night. He performed a procedure which filed down the uneven spots. According to him, this is a relatively new treatment, and he went to special training classes to learn how to do it. He said that the procedure would help alleviate the headaches that I'd been having. I was skeptical, but went ahead and did the procedure (he said the grinding would eventually cause damage to my teeth & jaw). It worked for me - my headaches have decreased significantly, and I dont appear to be grinding/clenching so much. I would recommend looking into the procedure if you are having problems.

[LGBurns]

I recently was shown another exercise to relax the tension in my jaw that I have found very helpful. Take three fingers or a matchbook and hold them between your front teeth for 10 minutes. Try to relax your lips and jaw muscles as you do it. At first it was very hard, but it gets easier. You don't have to do this before going to bed, but you should do it every day.

CathyS, I'm curious about the procedure your dentist used. I may have to check with my dentist about that. Thanks for the info!

[CathyS]

LGB

I notice from your profile that you live in Chicago. My dentist is actually located in Park Ridge IL. If you would like his information, I'd be happy to pass it along.

CathyS