Teeth Grinding?

[Melaine]

So after a couple weeks of tooth pain that at first I thought was a migraine, then a sinus infection the dentist thinks I am giving myself pain from clenching and grinding my teeth.

I bought a guard from Walmart but it hurt forming it and I couldn't fall asleep wearing it. This morning I woke up with bad tooth pain. Ibuprophen knocks it out really quickly though. I have also been having a lot of neck pain. Possibly related?

I am reading a lot about people taking Magnesium supplements and it helping this issue. Also Vitamin B and yoga are coming up when I'm googling. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

[mommylamb]

I'm a teeth grinder. I bit the bullet and got a mouth guard made specifically for me. it was about $400-$500. I can't sleep without it now. Very comfortable and helps a lot. I've never heard of magnesium supplements for this.

[larig]

Our dentist says it's genetic (DH is a grinder), so it's likely that you have always been one. If an OTC guard didn't work, maybe try a different kind of guard? Or have a dentist make one?

Oh, here is an unconventional guard that DH used once--he didn't mind it, but he hasn't minded any.
http://www.amazon.com/DenTek-Comfort-Fit-Dental-Guard/dp/B002WTCK4Q/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_5

[mypa]

I'm such a bad grinder that I have cracked/chipped several teeth in the past few years. The OTC ones never fit well enough to work for me. The custom made ones from the dentist fits like a glove and now I can't sleep without it. However, even those night guards I have chewed/cracked right through. Now the dentist makes it even thicker for me and those have held up. Fortunately my insurance pays 80% so out of pocket is under $100.

I know people blame grinding to stress but I have been grinding my teeth for as long as I can remember regardless of the level of stress in my life. However, when my sleep apnea was at its worst my grinding did escalate to a new level.

BTW, the thicker night guard I'm using also opens the mouth a bit so it does help relax the jaw.

Grinding your teeth can also be a symptom of sleep problems such as sleep apnea.

[♥ms.pacman♥]

a few years ago my dentist told me that i grind my teeth, and recommended i get a mouthguard to wear at night. it had to be custom-made (they had to make a mold of my teeth and all that). at the time i was in grad school and didn't have dental insurance and i paid for it out of pocket..i think it was about $300. i must admit when i wore it i felt like i slept better at night.

i know other people just buy generic ones, though i've never tried those.

[chays]

I flattened all 4 of my canines with my grinding. At one point I thought that I would need a root canal, my teeth hurt so badly.

The dentist had to lenthen my canines to improve my bite and I also sleep with a custom night-guard and it is wonderful. I will say, though...it gives really bad morning mouth!! I haven't yet found a way to prevent that.

[twowhat?]

You'll need a custom mouthguard that you have to get through your dentist. They are super pricey and insurance doesn't typically cover them (which makes me so mad). I paid about $700 out of pocket for mine, and it makes a big difference...I sleep better at night (once I got used to it) and it has reduced jaw and tooth pain. As long as you don't lose it, you'll keep it for life:)

[wellyes]

I grind even when I'm healthy and happy. It's not a stress overload thing. I like my WalMart mouth guard-- you boil it then bite down when it's hot and it forms to your teeth. Is that the kind you tried? If not, I'd give it a shot, it's $20ish.

[artvandalay]

I am a teeth grinder. My dentist wanted to make a custom fit night guard for me, but it was like 600 dollars.

I picked up a kind at Target, but it is a little bulky in my mouth. I got used to it. But, I saw another kind in Target, it was a very slim one (it was also the most expensive one they had). But, like I said, it was kind of small, it had pads back where the molars are, but the rest of the gaurd was very thin.

When I need to buy another guard, I'm getting this one.

ETA: I think this is the one:

http://www.target.com/DenTek-Comfort-Fit-Nightguard/dp/B00109VK2C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=teeth%20guard&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-4&qid=1299006944&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=DenTek%20Comfort%20Fit%20Nightguard&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_ primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0

[larig]

I am a teeth grinder. My dentist wanted to make a custom fit night guard for me, but it was like 600 dollars.

I picked up a kind at Target, but it is a little bulky in my mouth. I got used to it. But, I saw another kind in Target, it was a very slim one (it was also the most expensive one they had). But, like I said, it was kind of small, it had pads back where the molars are, but the rest of the gaurd was very thin.

When I need to buy another guard, I'm getting this one.

that's the dentek I linked to above. DS had one and didn't mind it. I thought it was odd that it was the most expensive when I looked for him.

[BigDog]

I have bad TMJ that started after DS1 was born, and then after DS2 was born it got much worse. I don't know if it's stress or what but I grind/clench my teeth terribly at night. I'll even notice during the day that I have my jaw clench. It's getting to the point where I'm doing it constantly and don't really realize it. Anyhow, I can barely open my mouth to yawn, eating food hurts, etc. I take ibuprofen so frequently that I'm practically immune to it, so that's not a solution anymore. I do have a custom night guard which I'm making an effort to wear more. (I'm a big drooler when I sleep and the night guard makes it worse, though I do feel better when I wear it!)

[pinkmomagain]

I became a clencher after dd3 was born. My dd1 has clenched since her braces came off and she is having serious TMJ issues (I am bringing her to a TMJ specialist this week). I am a believer it is due to stress (somewhat like nailbiting, chewing on the inside of the cheek, etc). I also do this thing with sticking my tongue in this one spot between my teeth and have chewed on the inside of my cheeks in the past too.

I too read about magnesium and B vitamins and have been taking them for months and have noticed that my unconscious stress habits have improved greatly. I also started taking Vit D at the same time....don't know if that has contributed to the improvements too.

[sansdieu]

I might be the only one not in love with my mouth guard. I had mine custom-made at the dentist over a decade ago. (My co-pay back then was $25, if you can believe it.) It fit fine, but it was disgusting in the morning (saliva or bacteria something pooling in), not sure how that can be good for teeth. I washed and brushed it - very gently, but it still stretched over time (and more stretching meant more goo in it), so I stopped wearing it after a while.

[Melaine]

Ok guys, so I got the cheap one at Walmart....well, it was $20, which isn't so cheap considering I HATE IT. The first night I couldn't fall asleep because it felt so big in my mouth. The second night I woke up in the middle of the night and had spit it out at some point so who knows how long it was actually in. Last night I woke a couple times and had to fish in the covers for the dang thing and put it back in my mouth.
And, ugh, it tastes awful and leaves a horrible feeling in my mouth. I don't think I wore it enough total last night to even know if it helped, I still had to take ibuprophen this morning from the pain.
I think I want to try the smaller one that pp linked too....thanks so much for all the advice everyone! I really just want to wear ANY guard for a few nights and see for sure that I get some relief from the pain before I jump into getting one custom made. I still have my doubts that this is actually the problem, I guess.

[veronica]

Careful with these.....I'm a teeth grinder during my sleep, and jaw clencher during the day. Definitely a stress/anxiety issue for me. I also have TMJ so all of my other symptoms aggravate it. I tried the OTC guards years ago and they were so ill-fitting that I actually grinded my jaw where my bottom jawline shifted side-ways and got jammed against that thing. talk about pain.

I remember my dentist describing it to me like this: your teeth are stronger than most materials. If you grind while you sleep, you are grinding your teeth down. same for the otc guards. you need one specially made and then filed to perfectly align with your jawline. It may not stop you from grinding, but it will protect your teeth and ensure that your bite is even all around, therefore helping the wear on your teeth all around. When you go to grind, all of your teeth will have an impact on the guard a the same time, thus eliminating excessive impact to one area.

IIRC, you struggle with TMJ as well? Aside from Advil and warm compresses along your jaw...the guard will help. I still have flare ups , when I can wake up and my "face-hurts" but those are during stressful times. I equate it to my head exploding when I wake up.

Hope you get relief soon!



Ok guys, so I got the cheap one at Walmart....well, it was $20, which isn't so cheap considering I HATE IT. The first night I couldn't fall asleep because it felt so big in my mouth. The second night I woke up in the middle of the night and had spit it out at some point so who knows how long it was actually in. Last night I woke a couple times and had to fish in the covers for the dang thing and put it back in my mouth.
And, ugh, it tastes awful and leaves a horrible feeling in my mouth. I don't think I wore it enough total last night to even know if it helped, I still had to take ibuprophen this morning from the pain.
I think I want to try the smaller one that pp linked too....thanks so much for all the advice everyone! I really just want to wear ANY guard for a few nights and see for sure that I get some relief from the pain before I jump into getting one custom made. I still have my doubts that this is actually the problem, I guess.

[Melaine]

Thanks, Veronica. I have never been diagnosed with TMJ or suspected I have it...and never really suffered with jaw pain. You may have remembered my thread about oral sex...I'm very uncomfortable with that and someone suggested I might have TMJ symptoms.

I guess I want to know this....how do I know for sure that this is my problem before I invest in an expensive guard? This has come up so recently that I'm having trouble understanding it. My dentist didn't mention anything about TMJ just that my teeth were grinding and something about malloclusion (sp?). He smoothed the high teeth down after having me bite on that papery stuff. That didn't help, so he did it one more time. That same night, I bought the guard and I did feel like it made my teeth sore itself. I'm wondering if I should go one night with nothing and see if that helps.

[mackmama]

I also had a custom-made night guard made by the dentist. I used to get migraines and sinus infections and cracked teeth from grinding my teeth. It took me awhile to get used to the night guard. I'd ask your dentist if you have TMJ. One way they test is looking to see if your jaw clicks at all when you open and close your mouth when they push on certain areas of your jawbone.

[veronica]

Does your DH hear you? When i was told by my dentist that I did it, it all made sense because my college roommate and DH always said that I made noises at night like I was flipping my retainer......

Otherwise, it would be your dentist that should easily see that your teeth are wearing down (which it sounds like they have seen that).

I had my first guard made by an orthodontist and my most recent by my current dentist. Maybe make a visit with an orthodontist? But....they will likely try to get you to pay for something there too.

does your jaw ever pop? when eating a bagel or anything chewy/hard to bite? if so, that is TMJ. Also , ear pain too. so many people have it and don't know....


Thanks, Veronica. I have never been diagnosed with TMJ or suspected I have it...and never really suffered with jaw pain. You may have remembered my thread about oral sex...I'm very uncomfortable with that and someone suggested I might have TMJ symptoms.

I guess I want to know this....how do I know for sure that this is my problem before I invest in an expensive guard? This has come up so recently that I'm having trouble understanding it. My dentist didn't mention anything about TMJ just that my teeth were grinding and something about malloclusion (sp?). He smoothed the high teeth down after having me bite on that papery stuff. That didn't help, so he did it one more time. That same night, I bought the guard and I did feel like it made my teeth sore itself. I'm wondering if I should go one night with nothing and see if that helps.

[bubbaray]

Your dentist should be able to tell if you grind from your teeth.

I wear a custom guard. I :heartbeat: my bite guard. I can't sleep without it now! Best money I ever spent (though most was covered by my dental ins. through work).

[Aishe]

I have bad TMJ that started after DS1 was born, and then after DS2 was born it got much worse. I don't know if it's stress or what but I grind/clench my teeth terribly at night. I'll even notice during the day that I have my jaw clench. It's getting to the point where I'm doing it constantly and don't really realize it. Anyhow, I can barely open my mouth to yawn, eating food hurts, etc. I take ibuprofen so frequently that I'm practically immune to it, so that's not a solution anymore. I do have a custom night guard which I'm making an effort to wear more. (I'm a big drooler when I sleep and the night guard makes it worse, though I do feel better when I wear it!)

I've had TMJ since I was a teenager, but I recently had the worst flare-up of my life. Like you, I am a terrible clencher. I basically do it all day long. I finally broke down and went to an orofacial pain clinic at a local dental school, and they taught me some physical therapy exercises that have been tremendously helpful. Basically, I put my index fingers on my lower teeth and my thumbs on my upper teeth. Then I stretch my jaw open as far as I can and hold it for six seconds. I do six repetitions of that six times a day. They also advised applying heat (I use one of those microwavable heating pads). On my second visit there they gave me a couple shots of lidocaine in the tightest spots of my jaw. They're not sure why it helps (it can't be the lidocaine because it wears off after an hour or so), but it really has made a difference. Anyway, you might google exercises for TMJ. I'm still not completely back to normal, but I'd say I'm about 90% of the way there. It's made a big difference in the quality of my life.