Grinding Teeth Without Even Knowing It

[BassistKara]

So i went to the dentist today after having pretty bad pains in my jaw for sometime, and he informs me that it is caused by grinding my teeth without even knowing it, in particular while asleep, but also quite a bit during the day. Apparently it is brought on by stress and anxiety. Which would explain why the pain has been getting worse over the past few weeks, as i have been having alot more nightmares and a generally hard time with things.
He suggested that if it doesnt improve with heat packs and pain killers(which i do not want to take) i will have to wear a mouthguard type thing at night, which i am fine with, if it stops it hurting!
But one thing i cant get my head around, is how i am supposed to stop doing it even when i try all those anxiety and stress reducing techniques if i dont even know i am doing it in the first place. Ultimately i would not want to wear a mouthguard at night for the rest of my life, but i have no idea how to control it, especially when i am asleep!
As soon as i got back from the dentist i rang my counsellor, who i told i wanted to work on this when she gets back from holidays in 2 weeks, i guess thats a start to letting her know things i wanna talk about without forgetting them as soon as i get my sessions!

[cherryblossom]

Like you say - you don't know you are doing it, so how do you stop doing it?

You have stated that it is caused by stress and anxiety, so these are the issues you have to address. You have answered you own question here, because you have already taken steps with your counsellor to help deal with these issues. I'm not saying it will be easy, or quick, but hopefully if you lessen the stress and anxiety, the teeth grinding will stop.

Good luck

[linasmom]

Hi,

I grind my teeth at times, too. Has your dentist ruled out TMJ as the cause of your teeth grinding? My mother had TMJ and a dentist diagnosed me as having it, too. Just food for thought.

Best,
Rachel

[Nicolette]

I grind my teeth when sleeping. Mine is stress related. I would wake up and my teeth and jaw would ache. The best remedy for me was eliminating the stress which in turn broke the habit!

[Seeking_Nirvana]

I do that too and I am having my back teeth grinded down so that my bite will be even. My dentist thinks it will help also I'm getting a mouth guard at night.
The mouth guard is suppose to retrain you at night so you don't do it???

I'm not sure if I understand how that will happen, but I have to do something because I have headaches every morning from it. Some times the pain is underneath my ear.

Tammy

[2quilt]

I wear a rubber nightguard every night. See if your insurance will cover it, because I left mine in an airport restaurant so I had to buy a replacement nightguard for $400

They do save your teeth from cracking. We have a terrible amount of pressure in our jaws.

[Murphy's Law]

I have been wearing a night guard for ten years or so. I never really thought about whether I would be wearing it forever or not. I do grind alot less when I am able to handle my stress well. But in the rough spots I notice I still go right back to grinding hard.

[2quilt]

I hope you have gotten your money's worth out of your nightguard!

I still have jaw pain when i am really upset about something , even when I use my nightguard, but at least i will still have teeth when i am 80.

[Shoshin]

OMG...funny you should post this...I have been clenching my jaw without knowing it a lot this past week! A dentist recommended a nightguard to me years ago, but I never went for it...

[BassistKara]

Wow, i didnt except every reply to consist of an 'i do that too' answer!

Since i found out ive been doing it, ive been so much more anxious to try and figure out when i am doing it to get myself to stop, which i think is just making things worse!!

Linasmom- What is TMJ?

Seeking Nirvana- Those headaches are so bad, i think i would rather just a normal toothache than a jaw clenching induced headache!

Oh dear, $400?! Thank goodness im still covered by my mums private health insurance!

[2quilt]

"I do too" answers come alot around here. We all have PTSD, or care about someone who has it, or both, and it seems that we all share alot of other life experiences.

Stress causes jaw clenching, and PTSD is stressful, so that makes sense.

Yeah, if you want to call your dental insurance company to find out if a nightguard is covered, the diagnosis is "bruxism" which means grinding. Go get it as soon as you can. It will save your enamel, and your jaw joints. Yes, $400US is alot for a piece of rubber.

I had to wear it in my mouth through the airport security when I travelled, because of the liquids rule, (you have to keep the nightguard in water) then we ate a bite at a restaurant in the airport, so I removed the nightguard and put it in my napkin, which I threw away...

Mine fits on my upper teeth, but they do make them for lower teeth. I love mine, and now I can't sleep without it. It's just a thin piece of rubber similar to what boxers wear while boxing; it does not keep your teeth too- too far apart. It's comfortable. You can still talk with it on, but you sound funny. If it fits right, it will not hurt your gumline.

TMJ is TemproMandibularJaw I think, (correct me, somebody,) and you can read all about it online away from this website here. It is a constant pain in the jaw muscles caused by grinding and tension and overuse of the jaw muscle. It can cause your jaws to subluxate (attempt to dislocate) and dislocate completely if severe. Very Painful! The jaw clicks when you chew. It can make you think you have an earache when you really don't because the pain is severest right there where the lower jaw connects to your skull, near your ears. (Go feel for it.) Right there.

[Murphy's Law]

oh, I just thought of something. Here in Canada you can find a "temporary" night guard. Look in the drug store, its about 40$. It wont be as well fit as the one the dentist will fit you for, but it will give you a good idea if it will work or bring relief. If you want to feel it out before investing the big bucks.

[BassistKara]

2quilt- Thanks for the reply, glad to know they're rather comfortable to wear! I looked up TMJ, and that sounds exactly what i have, with the clicking and dizziness etc etc. I never thought it could be connected to my jaw! Im going to make sure i bring it up at my check up in 2 weeks! I have to go to the insurance place this week anyway, so i'll ask them!

Murphy's Law- I think i may have to try that out just to see if it helps, im willing to try almost anything at this stage! Thanks for the suggestion, now to make another trip to the chemist haha!

[Awakening]

My dentist said most people like 90% grind their teeth at some point in their lives.
It's very common.
You are stressed.

[2quilt]

The nightguards you can buy at the store are , of course, not custom to your mouth, so unless you have the exact same mouth as the person they modelled that store-bought nightguard, it's a waste of money on a non-returnable item. Put that money toward a nightguard that will fit your mouth and wont rub when you chew or make sucking motions during sleep.

They make similarly cheap plastic mouthguards for boxers and other sports, but you have to keep them in clenched teeth to keep them in place, and be awake.

[becvan]

I also recommend buying the cheap one first. I am supposed to sleep with one of those too for clenching. However, putting one in my mouth causes me to have an anxiety attack and stop breathing. I have some extreme issues with things being in my mouth or over it. So I recommend you try the cheapy first. I'm glad I did, or I would have wasted two months food money!

bec

[Bulldog36]

I clinch my jaw and grind my teeth, untill you can get a mouth guard, I would suggest putting your tounge on one side, over your teeth, I know that sounds silly but if you try to bite down, you will know it. It works great for me during the day.:smile: