[onlymedid]

I have been clenching my teeth A LOT in the last few weeks. I even have been doing it in my sleep. I have done it for many years, but lately it seems like I do it ALL the time.

I have not really been under any more stress than usual and there are a few changes being made in my life and I am not sure if they could be contributing the my teeth clenching.

I started new meds for blood pressure, I am coming off of muscle relaxers that I had to use after my car accident and I stopped taking an anti-inflammatory medication about two weeks ago. I have never heard of those making one clench their jaw, but I don't know that it isn't the problem, either.

Even my dentist told me that he can tell I clench my jaw because of the way my teeth look and the fact that I need a crown because my tooth is cracked.

Anyways, does anyone have experience with this? Anyone have any ideas? I have tried using the teeth guard at night, but I always end up taking it out because it is to big and cumbersome.

I'm just sick of the headaches and pain in my teeth and jaw.

Thanks

[free2beme]

I've been doing this too - night and day !!!

i attributed it to a new anitdepressant, but i don't know for sure.

It hurts, but i can't stop!!!!!!!

(( Onlyme ))

Sorry I can't help with a solution, but I can relate big time. I have been doing it since I was a child and I've gotten so use to it after all those years you sort of just carry on.

Mouth gurards didn't work for me. My PTSD won't allow me to fall asleep with anything in my mouth. Muscle relaxers helped but I have a thing about that too.

I have chipped my front teeth because of what I call the "bear trap" thingy. I clench 24/7 but right when I am about to fall asleep, I must "surrender" and my jaws slam shut like a bear trap. Cannot tell you how many sore tongues and bleeding inside cheeks I've had.

My whole body is clenched, but clenching my toes has caused some big problems and I have recently landed myself in the podiatrist's office.

[ECHOES]

The changes in your life could be producing some underlying anxiety, maybe?
I wonder if the muscle relaxers have been keeping you from clenching.

I don't clench, I don't think, but I do have horrible leg (hip to toes) cramps that keep me from falling asleep and also wake me up. I started taking Tylenol PM recently and it has really helped--I don't get the horrible leg cramps and I get my sleep!

[Perna]

Yes, I had the teeth guard, know what you mean about big and awkward/cumbersome.

You might try, before going to bed, eating an apple or bagel. I read somewhere that tooth grinding/clenching is how the brain "twiddles its thumbs" :-) And if you eat something really chewy before bed it will kind of wear those twiddling muscles out? Have you tried chewing gum, etc. during the day? Just keep your mouth working on something so it won't take it out on your teeth.

[onlymedid]

Thank you everyone!

(((((free2beme))))))

(((((Orange_Blossom))))) I get the bleeding cheeks, too. I find myself biting my cheeks and lips during the night, waking up and going "OW!" I'm sorry you still suffer from it.

(((((Echoes))))) Maybe it is underlying anxiety. That would make sense. My BF has been in California and having him not here has been harder to deal with all of the changes. He comes back tonight, so maybe things will chill out just a little. I get the leg cramps, too. It's been going on just about as long as the intense jaw clenching. Hmmm....something to think about. I take meds for sleep, but I think I will talk to my dr about what might help to relax me more, I guess.

(((((Perna))))) Maybe I will try to eat something like that before bed. Usually I have toast, but it doesn't really take a lot of effort to eat! LOL I do chew gum...all day...every day. I still clench my jaw. I have become more aware of it and when I find myself clenching I take a deep breath and tell myself to relax.

Thanks for all the suggestions and thoughts. I appreciate it greatly!

Oh, I forgot. I am also a tongue-pusher.

I push my tongue up against my clenched teeth as if it is trying to escape from a locked prison.

I actually get sores from doing it. I am trying real hard to stay aware of it so I can stop!

[Irine]

yes i`ve been doing that to..for a long while. I don`t know why thought and never thought about it.....

[pegasus]

(((((((( onlymedid ))))))))

You can ask your dentist to make you a gum shield/guard that you can have in at night.

[Christina86]

I'm going to be getting ANOTHER mouth guard because I clench/grate/grind my teeth and now have jaw problems.

I'd really suggest either learning how to breathe before bed (meditatively?) or relenting and getting a mouth guard (and perhaps doing whatever necessary to deal with anxiety/discomfort of that). Not all mouth guards are horribly big... if you really needed one, they could always make a lighter one to be worn during the day you could wear at night. better safe than sorry!

see if you can deal with the anxiety somehow and it should help. my dentist also 'prescribed' me Advil to deal with the inflammation/pain of the jaw/mouth clenching... so thats also an idea if you need one.

[chrise]

i clench and grind my teeth and ive done it for as long as i can remember. i have done the mouth guards. i also have done 2 jaw surgeries on both sides because of the grinding. i still do it. i have never tried to get rid of the stress before i went to bed.and that was all a while ago maybe they have something newer. everyone is different.hope you have better luck than i did.

[onlymedid]

Thanks everyone.

I will try the breathing/meditating, I am all for trying anything if it might help! I didn't know you could get specially made mouth guards or even lighter ones, that sounds great!

OUCH! Jaw surgery?! I sure hope I don't have to ever have that done!

You all are so kind, thank you for the suggestions and ideas.

[carla37]

yup!!!!! for 15 years. Ive been a clecher. When i first started meds is when clinching started and recent studies are suggesting antidepression meds have something to do with it. I just read an article about it I have spent thousands Of dollar trying to fix it. mental health issuses suck

[(JD)]

Please see a dentist that is a TMD specialist, to be sure it isn't your JAW not sitting correctly. After that long of bruxism, you may have damage to the TMJs. Even if you do obtain a mouth guard, if it isn't set just for YOU and YOUR TMJs to put your jaw into perfect position, it won't do any real good and may make it worse.
It could be because you are off muscle relaxers, which helped the jaw muscles relax so they didn't pull excessively, and now they can. It could also be that you have worn your teeth down so far that there's no "seat" for your jaw to relax in/on, and thus it's a constant effort.

[onlymedid]

Originally Posted by _Sky

Please see a dentist that is a TMD specialist, to be sure it isn't your JAW not sitting correctly. After that long of bruxism, you may have damage to the TMJs. Even if you do obtain a mouth guard, if it isn't set just for YOU and YOUR TMJs to put your jaw into perfect position, it won't do any real good and may make it worse.
It could be because you are off muscle relaxers, which helped the jaw muscles relax so they didn't pull excessively, and now they can. It could also be that you have worn your teeth down so far that there's no "seat" for your jaw to relax in/on, and thus it's a constant effort.

Oh wow! Really?! I didn't even know it had a name! Hmmmm, I will call my dentist and see what he can do. I am tired of having a sore jaw and not even being able to kiss my BF because my jaw and teeth hurt.

Thanks for the info, _Sky!

[naturalgirl]

Originally Posted by chrise

i clench and grind my teeth and ive done it for as long as i can remember. i have done the mouth guards. i also have done 2 jaw surgeries on both sides because of the grinding. i still do it. i have never tried to get rid of the stress before i went to bed.and that was all a while ago maybe they have something newer. everyone is different.hope you have better luck than i did.

Many years ago I was clenching my teeth and grinding at night. I was under more than the normal stress at work at the time. I bought some Hi-stress B vitamins and took them, and in a few weeks I quit grinding. The dentist said it couldn't possible have anything to do with it, but it worked.

(((all of you)))
im like orange..
ive been doing this since i was a lil kid
and i grind my teeth loud enuff to wake ppl in other rooms
yup my teeth are fractured and i cant wear my guard its just too damn uncomfortable..
heres hoping my teeth last my life out..
i do it cos of anxiety and fear related things..
abuse teaches us so much.. cough cough.. sorry ppl