Other Bruxism (teeth clenching/grinding), tmj injuries caused from stress

[becvan]

Hi all.

I am just wondering if anyone else has gotten a TMJ injury due to bruxism? I am a serious clencher and have injured myself plenty. I have broken teeth, broken fillings, broken teeth at the roots, lost fillings, bruised my jaw and always have a morning migraine.

Two weeks ago, I knocked out yet another filling. This past weekend I gave myself a TMJ injury. (in case you don't know what that is, TMJ is the joint in your jaw. I have wounded mine. It's very swollen and doesn't want to open. My face is throbbing.) This type of injury is a first for me.

The only way to prevent this is to use a night guard. It costs $300.00 CA and is not covered by disability. My choices are, don't eat for a month or suffer the injuries.

Bruxism is correlated with stress disorders (no suprise.) I tend to clench worse than usual when my symptoms are worse than usual. (it's very crazy around here right now.)

So once again, PTSD has bitten me in the butt, in a most round about way.

Anyone else deal with this?

bec

 

[sigh]

Yes, I've ground my teeth for many years. The only way out of it is the night guard (and you would get better sleep and wake up better). I would save up for it. I know this isn't what you want to hear. Or go to the drug store and get one--there are ones specifically for this (not hockey). They help, cost $10, and work as well.

 

[zoe]

I went through 8 night gaurds ( 2 the dog chewed up) the rest I ground through. After waking up one night choking on a piece of one, I gave up. I may have more difficulty because the joint is "off" anyway.

I have heard that they work for most people. I know some people do have success with the ones at drug store.

I hope they work for you.

Zoe

 

[pandora]

I have the same problem along with the teeth, had a tooth fall out again tonight as a matter of fact. There are ones at the pharmacy and they are not as expensive..you put them in warm water and then it fits your mouth. Like the ones the kids use for hockey. I am not sure if you have tried this. I unfortunately could not stand having it in my mouth..automatically felt like gagging. I hope you find something that works for you bec.

 

[shiraz]

Hi Becvan,

I have never done myself serious injury as you have and am quite shocked to hear that it is possible! That must be awful for you! OUCH! :Hug_emoticon:

When I clench I dream that my teeth break off and fall out etc, but the worst I've had is terrible jaw ache and a bit of a headache the next morning.

I tried the gum guard and kept myself up all night choking on it and trying not to gag .... then gave up. I have seen recently though that the newer guards are not 'full mouth', and just fit the top front to teeth, I think that will work much better!

I know you feel like you need help NOW and can't delay - so, I hope that you find a cheaper option that works.

Hey, I just remembered about a friend of mine who taught himself to sleep with his tongue between his teeth .... I never could ..... but you could give it a try :) Poor tongue though, I bite mine way too often as it is!!

:Hug_emoticon:
shiraz

 

[midi]

Yeah. My mother used to complain about my nightly teeth grinding. The noise bothered her.

Maybe yoga exercises for tension can help? Yoga sometimes helps with migraines too (if you do it earlier enough).

 

[Marlene]

I do clench and grind my teeth...but only on one side. It started after oral surgery (post PTSD). And it was during my withdrawals from klonopin. I'm sure those two reasons have a lot to do with it.

I wake up sometimes with a heachache and neckache from clenching my jaw. When I'm nervous I do this circular grind of my teeth. I've had several people make comment of it. And at the end of a bad day the whole side of my head will just ache from the grinding and clenching of my teeth and jaw. One of my yoga instructors gave me an exercise to get that joint back in place and help with the pain after make myself hurt so badly.

Maybe put a wedge in your bed help keep your head elevated and the clenching will have to be done against the force of gravity while you sleep. It might help. I find that if I fall asleep in the recliner, most times I wake with my mouth open and not clenching my jaws at all.

Also, I agree with the others about a cheap mouthguard. When I was doing karate I bought one (just a few bucks). Warm water, adjust to your mouth shape and you're done.

Lisa

 

[2quilt]

My night guard cost 400. It's thick rubber, but I can chew on it like a pacifier; it has some give to it instead of being hard. I chew all night long.

 

[Manic11]

I clench my teeth. I dont even notice Im doing it until I get a headache. My jaw locks a lot...its painful.
I'm so sorry to hear that though, Bec. I really hope you find something that works for you...

Manic

 

[sigh]

Just so ya know--those ones at the drug store are often big and bulky--once they get hard, you can trim all off that you don't need. Mine is like a pacifier too--when I have it in my mouth, I feel like a little kid. If they are too bulky, they can be cut.

 

[kers]

I grind terribly at night and clench my jaw a lot during the day. By the afternoon I often have headaches from the clenching. This has caused lots of damage to my teeth, including breaking a tooth with a root canal so I had to get an implant (which cost a fortune).

I got a hard night guard and it has made a world of difference. I use it at night and often when I am home in the afternoon and evening. It was pricey, several hundred dollars, but after forking out thousands for that implant, my dentist said he thought it was a necessary expense for me.

 

[Mina]

I've been grinding since I was a little girl. Like Midi, my mother used to complain about the noise...but never did anything about the problem. It wasn't until I was an adult and took myself to a good dentist (who was appalled at how worn my teeth were) that anything was done about it. I'm extremely fortunate that I never had any breakage. Bec, I'm so sorry to hear about yours...that must be very painful!

I have one of the expensive ones; several hundred bucks for a little tiny thing! It looks a little like a beak, and snaps onto my upper two front teeth so that my uppers and lowers cannot make contact with one another. I wore the first one down to nothing. Then it was discovered that my lower front teeth had worn down substantially from grinding against the guard! :rolleyes: So now I have to wear a lower guard as well, which is similar to a plastic retainer or small mouthguard. When I grind, it's guard against guard now. I imagine I'll have to wear them for the rest of my life, since in 31 years I have always ground my teeth.