Here is something you could try. It might work for you as it does for me. Its called thought field therapy (TFT) by Roger Callahan. This lady does a demo on youtube. I would post the link but this forum won't let me until I have 10 posts. Its a spam thing. Anyway just search for the therapy on youtube and look for the one for relieving stress and anxiety. That's the one that worked for me. You may think BS and it may not help you but its worth a try right?
-
We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
-
Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.
Chomping - Gritting Teeth, Grinding Teeth
- Post starter Portabella
- Start date
- Status
Boy oh boy can I relate to this! Grinding, clenching, biting through my tongue in my sleep from the enormous amount of abuse, hate and rage..Had major surgery on one side.
Internalizing all the pain, stress, abuse...no nurturing or love as a child OR as an adult for that matter.
I could not open my mouth to eat pizza, a bagel or chew gum. It would click, and lock up. Not only would I wake up with excruciating pain in jaw but my hands would be in a fist...clenching those too!
I am now 52 and the other side is now a problem. I have to stifle every yawn coming on, if I don't I am in extreme pain for weeks with a locked jaw on the other (non surgery side). I have tried Hot compress etc...TMJ= Temporal Mandibular Joint syndrome. I have no under or overbite...it is from burying feelings and emotions from a horrific childhood with one and only parent...I was her whipping post and held captive till she kicked me out at 19 y/o with no where to go. But it did sooo NOT end there!
If you feel uptight and like you will clench...try this trick as you go to sleep. Pull the covers up to your bottom lip...make sure as you try to relax that you try to keep a slack jaw and try to keep you bottom lip touching the sheet and or blanket.
I had so many mouth guards and they all made me have a gag reflex. I have had extensive dental work so much so I had to go to to Costa Rica to afford it!! My teeth were so broken down, cracked and disintegrating from the amount of pressure I was putting on myself due to Cruella DeVille! I also had to have a "rear end alignment" due to internalizing all the pain and stress from her! But that is a whole other topic called IBS.
Internalizing all the pain, stress, abuse...no nurturing or love as a child OR as an adult for that matter.
I could not open my mouth to eat pizza, a bagel or chew gum. It would click, and lock up. Not only would I wake up with excruciating pain in jaw but my hands would be in a fist...clenching those too!
I am now 52 and the other side is now a problem. I have to stifle every yawn coming on, if I don't I am in extreme pain for weeks with a locked jaw on the other (non surgery side). I have tried Hot compress etc...TMJ= Temporal Mandibular Joint syndrome. I have no under or overbite...it is from burying feelings and emotions from a horrific childhood with one and only parent...I was her whipping post and held captive till she kicked me out at 19 y/o with no where to go. But it did sooo NOT end there!
If you feel uptight and like you will clench...try this trick as you go to sleep. Pull the covers up to your bottom lip...make sure as you try to relax that you try to keep a slack jaw and try to keep you bottom lip touching the sheet and or blanket.
I had so many mouth guards and they all made me have a gag reflex. I have had extensive dental work so much so I had to go to to Costa Rica to afford it!! My teeth were so broken down, cracked and disintegrating from the amount of pressure I was putting on myself due to Cruella DeVille! I also had to have a "rear end alignment" due to internalizing all the pain and stress from her! But that is a whole other topic called IBS.
SweetPeaandSunBird
Platinum Member
Hi all, sure wish I had found this forum in early July.
I've also read that some studies suggest that since a lot of anti-depressants cause "dry mouth," we lose the natural wash our saliva is supposed to offer. Then, of course, our hyper-vigilance and stress-clenching add to everything. My boyfriend would have to wake me up because my grinding and gnashing were waking him up (granted, though, he is a light sleeper).
Late in July I had to make a difficult decision at 40+ years of age. I hadn't seen a dentist since I was 17 and finally convinced myself to go to a recommended dentist. (My father once put me in a chokehold, my brother, too, when I was little so lying in a dentist's chair kept me away.) Anyway, my front teeth started crumbling away, my back teeth lost their crowns, etc. Knowing how terrible I am at going to medical professionals, and due to the extended costs that would have continued had I reconstructed my teeth one tooth or quadrant at a time, I chose to have all my teeth pulled and have immediate denture plates put in.
I joke now about how expensive it was: Basically a bought a new economy car and parked it in my mouth!:wacky:
These forums are so good. Self-care for teeth is a big issue. I'm glad you all are going to your dentists and taking preventative measures. Kudos for all of you!
As for me, I can now enjoy a variety of soft foods (a few more months and I hope to have some hard-shell tacos since I'm a Tex-Mex fanatic.) Funny...since my new "teeth" don't have a history with my childhood and past adult-assault, I'm much more willing to take care of them.
I'm finding that I love my new "chompers" :D though the recovery process has been long.
Best to you all.
I've also read that some studies suggest that since a lot of anti-depressants cause "dry mouth," we lose the natural wash our saliva is supposed to offer. Then, of course, our hyper-vigilance and stress-clenching add to everything. My boyfriend would have to wake me up because my grinding and gnashing were waking him up (granted, though, he is a light sleeper).
Late in July I had to make a difficult decision at 40+ years of age. I hadn't seen a dentist since I was 17 and finally convinced myself to go to a recommended dentist. (My father once put me in a chokehold, my brother, too, when I was little so lying in a dentist's chair kept me away.) Anyway, my front teeth started crumbling away, my back teeth lost their crowns, etc. Knowing how terrible I am at going to medical professionals, and due to the extended costs that would have continued had I reconstructed my teeth one tooth or quadrant at a time, I chose to have all my teeth pulled and have immediate denture plates put in.
I joke now about how expensive it was: Basically a bought a new economy car and parked it in my mouth!:wacky:
These forums are so good. Self-care for teeth is a big issue. I'm glad you all are going to your dentists and taking preventative measures. Kudos for all of you!
As for me, I can now enjoy a variety of soft foods (a few more months and I hope to have some hard-shell tacos since I'm a Tex-Mex fanatic.) Funny...since my new "teeth" don't have a history with my childhood and past adult-assault, I'm much more willing to take care of them.
I'm finding that I love my new "chompers" :D though the recovery process has been long.
Best to you all.
SweetPeaandSunBird
Platinum Member
Hey, hello, too. You know what really made me take care of things...
Since I live in Appalachia (though I'm a newcomer to it -- and love it), I hate all the stereotypes about Appalachians. The poverty is such that folks just can't afford to do things and there's also a LOT of ptsd-ers here, many veterans, etc. I didn't want to be one more person adding to a false "truth" so I finally got my false teeth. (Notice that I didn't stay away long? Still trying to grow up and get things done.):banghead:
I know the chipped teeth thing very well. As far as I am concerned, a smile is a smile and, if it's sincere, it's beautiful -- no matter the dental care (or lack thereof). So, smile on!
Since I live in Appalachia (though I'm a newcomer to it -- and love it), I hate all the stereotypes about Appalachians. The poverty is such that folks just can't afford to do things and there's also a LOT of ptsd-ers here, many veterans, etc. I didn't want to be one more person adding to a false "truth" so I finally got my false teeth. (Notice that I didn't stay away long? Still trying to grow up and get things done.):banghead:
I know the chipped teeth thing very well. As far as I am concerned, a smile is a smile and, if it's sincere, it's beautiful -- no matter the dental care (or lack thereof). So, smile on!
KP the nut
VIP Member
I'm on my way to a new guard. I ripped off a jaggered piece of plastic of my current one. It is well and truly chomped, I look at it and realise how much it is saving my teeth.
HëllaBubz
Diamond Member
I wish I could wear a guard.
My bruxism was so severe over a short period of time that the nerve in my front tooth is constantly aggravated, there is a small fluid filled cyst there nearly all the time, I cannot use an electrical toothbrush because of the pain generated, and the tooth has actually dropped down on an angle noticeably, so that wearing a guard actually puts my tooth at risk of snapping off.
My bruxism also caused a filling in my top back molar to fall out, and because visiting the community dentist caused me to shake so severely that I couldn't hold a cup of water, I put it off for 7 months, and then the molar cracked clear through from the large hole on one side, all the way through to the other side of the molar, almost like a partially sliced apple.
I often find my jaw clenching, and my teeth gritted, and have to consciously relax it, otherwise my nerves in the gum start to throb.
Regular massages help, although I have to make sure that I let them know not to press on my lip below my nose, as the pain is intolerable.
My bruxism was so severe over a short period of time that the nerve in my front tooth is constantly aggravated, there is a small fluid filled cyst there nearly all the time, I cannot use an electrical toothbrush because of the pain generated, and the tooth has actually dropped down on an angle noticeably, so that wearing a guard actually puts my tooth at risk of snapping off.
My bruxism also caused a filling in my top back molar to fall out, and because visiting the community dentist caused me to shake so severely that I couldn't hold a cup of water, I put it off for 7 months, and then the molar cracked clear through from the large hole on one side, all the way through to the other side of the molar, almost like a partially sliced apple.
I often find my jaw clenching, and my teeth gritted, and have to consciously relax it, otherwise my nerves in the gum start to throb.
Regular massages help, although I have to make sure that I let them know not to press on my lip below my nose, as the pain is intolerable.
YES. I DO ):
Last edited by a moderator:
- Status
Similar posts
Donation drives
Trending content
-
-
What Are You Feeling Today? Not Thinking, Rather Feeling! Can You Identify Yours?
- goingonhope
Comments: 34K -
-
-
-
