[~*glass_owl*~]

*sigh* much like my internet addiction, I thought this was some kind of joke, but it's pretty severe. I chew on chewed gum, old gum, gum that has been wrapped up in paper already. I chew on pen caps, plastic...etc. As long as it's vegan I chew on it. I constantly have to have something in my mouth. I feel like I'm going to choke on something inedible, but I've been doing this for decades. I know that the ingredients in gum in high doses can't be good for me and plastics aren't made to be chewed on. I also snack excessively too and am overweight. I was swimming to compensate, but covid has stopped that. I understand what binge eating is, I'm not sure if it applies to me, but I'm not bulimic or anorexic, but something is definitely off with me. Can anyone help? (I'm serious, I'm not a troll, I can post pictures of the pen caps if you want proof)

[unaluna]

Has a dentist ever asked or told you you grind your teeth? You might want to ask your dentist to make you a custom bite guard.

I never had a pacifier when i was a baby (or so i was told), so when i got my night mouth guard a few years ago, it was primal! I was like, so THATS what ive been missing all these years. I used to gnaw on the tips of Bic pen caps, coffee stirrers, Life Savers candies, gum - so yeah my teeth are a wreck.

[~*glass_owl*~]

I can ask thank you!

[bizi]

Originally Posted by ~*glass_owl*~

I can ask thank you!

congratulations on your sobriety date!
bizi

@~*glass_owl*~ and all:

I don't know anything about gum chewing and other chewing unfortunately. But i just want to let you know that i am sorry to read that you are bothered by this and hope investigations with your a dentist can shed some light on it. You've also heard from Unaluna about a mouth-guard, which might be an option.

Of course, this being an overeating/binge-eating disorder forum, you can look into the two welcome posts that are stickied to the top of the board to read into what this disorder if and if you indeed have it, or if your excess weight is due to other, more benign, problems.

You're certainly welcome here, if it suits you!

Ta!

Jane.

Hi Unaluna and all:

Glad your mouth-guard is working out for you! I am getting fitted for a mouth-guard on Tuesday! Hope it works as well for me. Am a bit concerned about sleeping with it as my tongue is so fat my mouth opens at night and the membranes dry out and i wake up with my mouth tasting like a garbage can. My dentist showed me computer images of my back bottom teeth and almost all the enamel is worn off from teeth-grinding at night, called "bruxism."

I've been getting pain twinges in these teeth. Sensitivity toothpaste helps. Also, my dentist painted a protective substance on my worn-out teeth and that is working well. I haven't had a pain twinge since she did it about two weeks ago. It's just a temporary measure tho; has to be repeated every few months. Luckily i have an excellent dental plan.

She wanted me to see a specialist about crowns or caps but i'm a dental trauma survivor from when i was fourteen so i nixed that idea pretty quick! I'll do emergency dental care and the mouth-guard but that is all.

The use of computer-assist technology has really exploded in dentistry these days. It was really impressive.

So, yeah, mouth-guards seem to be common for people with stress. But i sure hate the dentist. One older, experienced dentist i was a little braver with retired and my new one is inexperienced and indecisive, tho very talented with the new tech.

I just don't like anyone sticking sharp instruments in my mouth and prodding around tho. It's not humane. I've considered getting my teeth cleaned under anesthetic and might pursue that tho.

I *do* want my teeth for life, just the question is how much suffering can i tolerate to do that. Not much! I brush, floss and rinse regularly, so i do my part. Hopefully that helps prevent any further damage to my teeth.

Last appointment, which was my first in three years, i didn't have a single cavity! I was worried the pain twinges were cavities and i can't bear having the high-speed drill used to fix them. So, yay for no cavities!!!

I hope my mouth-guard works as well for me as yours does for you!

Ta!

Jane.



P.S.: I forgot and @handled you the first draft of my message so if you get a notification, please forgive! It's a habit and i am trying to be diligent but sometimes i make mistakes which is all part of being human. My apologies if you got an annoying notification. Very sorry!