Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

roboat52 · Post by **roboat52** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:48 am

I'm a "grinder" at night- clench so hard I break my teeth.
BUT I've solved the problem. I found a new mask on line-It's a mouth guard attached to nasal pillows on a hose- You have to make the mouth guard yourself- they give you the instructions and appliance parts- you have to put it in hot water and mold it to your own bite.
Works great. No face lines- no headaches and no broken teeth any more. I've been using it for 2 yrs now.
I just recenly had a specialist replace the mouth guard with a custom mouth guard. expensive but does fit better.

New Question · Post by **New Question** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:52 am

This may be odd, but did you have a colonoscopy recently? I developed severe teeth clenching immediately after a colonoscopy. It turned out the pain of the procedure was so excruciating that I clenched my teeth viciously through the procedure, even though it was done with twilight anesthesia, and as a result I needed a bite plate and couldn't chew for a month.

torontoCPAPguy · Post by **torontoCPAPguy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:08 pm

grumpygirl wrote:Hello everyone!! I saw my dentist today because I have been having a problem with clenching my teeth at night. It has created some problems with my teeth including making my gum recede on two different teeth. Don't ask me why it does that but my dentist explained it to me. Anyway he wanted to make me a mouth guard (for $250) to keep my teeth apart during the night. Well, I explained to him my situation with apnea and my mouth taping. He looked at me like I had two heads and said that I needed to do something to keep my teeth from being ruined by nightly clenching.
I admit that I have been waking up in the mornings with a feeling that I had been clenching or grinding my teeth at night(going through some anxiety with unemployment and other $$ issues etc, etc.). I tried one of the OTC kits that you can fit to your mouth to keep from clenching but I have some issues with my bite being off and these OTC kits would not mold to my teeth. Wasted $27 on that one!!
I know you guys are probably saying I should use a FFM but I have tried many of them and just cannot find one that fits and feels the least bit comfy. I also have a recessed chin that makes fitting a FFM kinda difficult-they leak horribly and I have to make the straps so tight that I wake up with neck pain and a headache.
My question is this- has anyone else ever had problems with clenching, and what did you do to solve the problem? Any thoughts on how to solve this problem other than the $250 appliance and a FFM?? With being unemployed I just cannot spend the money for the appliance AND a FFM.
It seems there is always some problem with my body lately, one problem that creates another problem and then I end up with TWO problems that I can't afford to fix or that just cannot be solved with some easy solution!! Any thoughts here??
THANKS-GG

What you have is a SERIOUS issue albeit not life threatening. My spouse clenches her teeth at night and the end result, untreated, was huge issues with both her teeth (now corrected at great cost) and her jawbone (the joint... forget what it's called). A custom made bite plate is the only way to attend to the problem without drugs (stay away from the drugs if you have OSA).

You need to see someone who can advise you as to the interactions with OSA. I have no clue. All I can tell you is that OSA is LIFE THREATENING and clenching your teeth is not. But they are both significant issues that need to be dealt with. Have a friend that tried to kill two birds with one stone and had a bite plate that was supposed to help his OSA. It did not but it did help his clenching. He now has a major thyroid issue and I wonder openly if there is any way this can be associated with OSA? Seems strange for a guy who has never had an antibiotic in his life nor a cavity nor been to hospital, etc.

J-Mac · Post by **J-Mac** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:15 pm

Thank you Robysue!

Actually I did try a mouth guard about four years ago but it made things feel worse so I gave it up. I don’t get massive intense jaw pain, and I am already on pain meds for a really messed up spine so I just grin and bear it - or is it "grit" and bear it in this case!

Thanks!

Jim

jazzer4 · Post by **jazzer4** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:20 pm

Get the mouth guard, I know they are expensive, but so are cap and crowns. I just had 3 crowns done and the bill was &2,700.00 and I have insurance.
I wore those teeth down grinding and I still need more crowns.

When we grind we tighten all the neck and face muscles. I had no idea I was clenching and grinding but after a move from one state to another my new dentist took one look at my teeth and told me I was grinding them down. I wondered why my neck would get tight and my jaw hurt in the morning. But one thing very interesting is my sleep doctor told me I've been grinding and clenching to try to keep my airway open at night. That really made sence to me. So now, even with the machine I still use my night guard. I doubt I could go to sleep without it. I would keep wondering what was missing.
I've used a hard one made by my dentist for the past 10 years. I also tape...no problem.
But, if you need any dental work done do that first as any changes in the mouth (like my three new crowns) means you may need to get another guard made.
Llike said above maybe your dentist will work something out with you.

lazer · Post by **lazer** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:20 am

I just take my top teeth out at night. Problem solved!

Sir NoddinOff · Post by **Sir NoddinOff** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:10 am

PreCPAP, my dentist said I was grinding my teeth in my sleep, not real bad, but enough to concern him. Sometimes I'd wake up with a mildly sore jaw. Post CPAP I'm not waking up with a sore jaw anymore, plus I don't think I'm teeth grinding in my sleep, tho that's hard to be certain of since I'm asleep when I do it. I'll ask the dentist next trip, then update you. Maybe OSA was the partial or sole cause of my teeth grinding? Might be interesting to research.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:17 am

Hey guys,
This old thread was resurrected by spammer shalaham. Note the link to his dental practice that he tried to sneak into his post.
Common tactic. Find something where they can agree and post something where they can sneak a link for their website.

I am going to remove his post but copy it here because it does have some useful common sense information but I will remove his link. I don't believe in letting these people get away with this sort of stuff. They think that they have put one over on us.

In the future try to watch the dates. Reviving old threads is a common tactic. Best thing to do is remove the spam and not respond. Sometimes they are really sneaky though.

shahalam wrote:In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may wear their teeth down to stumps. When these events happen, bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be needed.Not only can severe grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, result in hearing loss, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ, and even change the appearance of your face.No body wants (link removed) ,but the best method for preventing dental pain is preventing the need for dental procedures. By practicing good oral habits that include brushing and flossing several times per day along with making regular appointments for cleanings and checkups will help prevent the need for any painful procedures.

Sir NoddinOff · Post by **Sir NoddinOff** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:04 am

Pugsy wrote:Hey guys,
This old thread was resurrected by spammer shalaham. Note the link to his dental practice that he tried to sneak into his post. Common tactic. Find something where they can agree and post something where they can sneak a link for their website.

I am going to remove his post but copy it here because it does have some useful common sense information but I will remove his link. I don't believe in letting these people get away with this sort of stuff. They think that they have put one over on us.

In the future try to watch the dates. Reviving old threads is a common tactic. Best thing to do is remove the spam and not respond. Sometimes they are really sneaky though.

Pugsy, I'll tell you the same thing I told my wife last weekend: "Thanks for taking care of most the housekeeping and all the little details that make a happy home; it's a hard job and often unappreciated. In my defense, I just get so excited when I see something interesting, that I fire off a post without checking the date! I'll try to be more attentive.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 am

So, the link and spam may need to be forwarded to the professional dental organization in the appropriate city?
This looks like the sort of stinky practice that REPUTABLE dentists would avoid.
If the spammer is a member of a professional organization, he may be due for a 'talking to' by his colleagues.

piglet14 · Post by **piglet14** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:43 am

I have fibromyalgia- Fact# 1; I clench my teeth from time to time- usually stress related- #2; I recently had need of extensive dental--" Can you open your mouth just a little wider"--#3. Result: TMJ to the max-- fibromyalgia has things locked into a parallel universe. What to do?

I decided to treat the problem as fibro generated-- the dental part for me was secondary. My on-going fibro care involves an intense therapeutic massage once a week- top to toe, 2-3 hours. It's like a giant unlocking and keeps me walking and talking. I figure my massage therapist gives me functional life. I was able to work full time until I was 66; I am now 73 and drive fifty miles (x2) twice a week to chase after 5 yr old Twinsters while my DD runs away to recover. SO--

What can SuperMT do about the TMJ? For a few weeks while the dental was happening and post work, she spent, at least, an hour each session on my head, face and surrounding territory. A couple of times with my dentist's help we scheduled MT sessions immediately following his work to prevent LOCK DOWN. ( I also call her any time my body has any trauma occur to prevent the same.)

The result? I'm OK and comfortable. I guess I just want to suggest that therapeutic massage can be used as part of the treatment for teeth clenching problems and for a lot of other things. Now I will put my cheerleading pompons down.

Lynda

lisacaice · Post by **lisacaice** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:08 am

I wear a ffm and grind my teeth. You should get the appliance. That's not a bad price either. Tax time is coming...maybe you can use some of your refund if you get one? Plus a lot of Dr's will take payments. You might also ask if that's possible.

Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

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Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

Re: Anyone had problems with clenching their teeth?

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