Grinding Teeth

[crunchies0313]

I was just wondering if anyone had the same problem as myself, and if so any suggestions. I grind my teeth at night. So much that I have messed up my teeth. I have a night guard and I wear it every night, but I wake up in the mornings with horrible headaches, and constant jaw pain. My dentist said the only advice he really had was to wear the guard, take Advil, and try some tension releasing exercises, but its not helping. Any advice?
:confused:

[Lee]

Unfortunately I don't have any advice, but I do know how you feel, my teeth are shot, my jaw aches and I get headaches and earaches from it. I find even when I am awake when I am super stressed I will be cleching my jaw. This past year has been extremely stressful and the pain has gotten worse. I guess if we had a magic wand and could make our stress go away we would be all set :).

[buttercup]

My daughter, 14, has done this since she was little. Since she got braces it is not as bad, but she is getting them off soon and I hope she doesn't start up again. She also talks in her sleep. She's in her own room so we don't hear any of this anymore but when she has a friend sleepover we find out from them. When she was just a tiny baby she was such a noisy sleeper we had to move her out of our room so we could sleep. She's a cool kid, though. I hope you find an answer for the grinding.

[crunchies0313]

Thanks!

[MalteseJane]

I used to grind my teeth for a long time. I don't do it anymore I think. My husband does not complain anymore so I suppose I stopped. I also wear a upper denture now. But I broke the first one by biting on it too hard during my sleep. The one I have now is reinforced.

[sphinx]

I used to do that. I have a question...do you take any antidepressants? It's not really well known, but some antidepressants (esp SSRIs like Zoloft, prozac) have a side effect of causing you to clench and grind you teeth. I used to wear a night guard for my teeth too, but since I changed antidepressants, I don't need it anymore.

[crunchies0313]

I used to take Prozac but its been a few years since I have gottne off.

[Melislite]

grinding teeth!! UGGHhhh!! I am a teeth grinder! I had an abcessed tooth...was taking antibiotics & Pain releivers for it...was sleeping..i awoke to find my self grinding my teeth...The worse pain possible!! I got up, put my face under cold running water and an Ice-pack on my ear area!! And cried!! Most times the grinding for me only causes jaw & Ear pain! But that one night was the worse!!!! I beleive it is caused by stress...and also by falling asleep when not at peace with ourselves!!

[MalteseJane]

It never caused me pain. I was not even aware of it if it would not be for my husband telling me.

[LadyG]

I know what you all are going through. My mother says I have done it every since I was little. My jaw used to be sore when I woke up now it hurts! Right now I don't take anything for it. (Hate taking pills) I just bare with it. My children also grind their teeth and I can't stand it.

[BBShopMom]

grinding teeth!! UGGHhhh!! I am a teeth grinder! I had an abcessed tooth...was taking antibiotics & Pain releivers for it...was sleeping..i awoke to find my self grinding my teeth...The worse pain possible!!

Oh Melislite! Sorry to hear about that - I can only imagine. :eek:

I don't know that I grind, but I know I clench like crazy. I find myself doing it during the day and at night. Makes my neck and jaw hurt.

I don't have any advice either but I love the magic wand idea! Poof! ;)

[TessiNY]

Ladies, a quick word of advice (from a dental assistant!!). You do not have to live with the pain, there is a cause and an answer somewhere so don't let the doc ignore you. A night guard and pain relievers are the first step. Moist, warm clothes are better than cold and place them on the jaw joint just to the front of the ear -- and keep in mind, if this area is sore you could have TMD--temporalmandibular disorder. Most of all, you need to relax before bed or any event where you catch yourself clenching. I was so stressed one time that I literally sheered the side of a tooth completely off!! I also have loose teeth on the lower fronts because of constant grinding and clenching and now have a splint for support and my dentist has added height to my molars to relieve the stress on the front teeth. My point is--Depending on your circumstances, there are things that can help with this. Good luck

[crunchies0313]

Teresa... Thanks for the great advice!!! I really appreciate it!!

[Autumn Moon]

You might want to see if your dentist can get a slightly softer guard made for you, and make sure your present one is fitted properly.
DH says I still grind my teeth, with guard in, but I don't have pain in the morning. I have been a little achy now and then but not pain.
While I was taking antibiotics last fall (30 days worth) I found I was clenching my teeth more than grinding them and did have jaw and ear pain.
When you go to bed, try to relax your jaw and keep it relaxed as you fall asleep.
Good luck,
Autumn

[Carmen]

As I am settling into the pillow each night, preparing to drift off into dreamland, I make a conscious effort to open my mough slightly and relax my jaw. Yes, I know that this contributes to "drool outlines on the pillow" but I would rather have to deal with that instead of the consequences of a clenched jaw and ground teeth. I wake up once or twice during the night to use the bathroom or adjust the covers and get comfy, and each time I remind my mouth to, "Open and relax." It works for me!

[triplej2676]

i am so glad i am not alone in this. sometimes my jaw pops so painfully i think i am going to go mad! i started grinding my teeth AFTER i got my braces off. i never had any probs with my jaw before the braces. now i have a jaw that pops, back teeth that hurt and earaches. my dentist says the only options for me will be expensive and i can't afford that right now.

[txgurl]

Oh, yes, I grind my teeth and don't even realize I am doing it. My dentist has informed me that my teeth are going to be nubs if I don't stop and has me wearing a guard at night. It isn't bad and doesn't bother me to wear it. My husband wears a guard to keep from snoring, so we are a pair of guarded people. :D

[hypertyper]

I clench my teeth at night and grind them, too. I have cracked a few of my teeth from the pressure. I wish there was a way to stop it. I have a mouth guard, too. I sympathize. It's an awful thing to have.

[futurekidnurse]

I grind and clench big time too. I used to use a night guard but the pain in my jaw and head was just so bad that I finally went to an orthodonist. I am now a 30 year old with braces. I will have them on for quite a while too. There was so much wrong with my bite that there was a point that my ortho thought I may need surgery. I am still not in the clear for that either. It really sucks I know. Sometimes when I am stressed, I grind so hard that I wake myself up several times.

Tally

[JasmineDreams]

When I'm really stressed, I grind my teeth in my sleep. ugh!

[Banjos]

I am more of a teeth clincher than a grinder but the effect is still the same--excessive tooth wear and sore jaws/headaches. I have a mouth guard but it only protects my teeth; it does not help the clinching and may even make it worse. Using a tranqulizer such as Klonopin stops the clinching but it is really too habit forming to take every night. Wish I had a better answer.