Teeth Clenching/Grinding

[AgentMama]

I have been a teeth clencher/grinder at night for awhile, but lately, I've had trouble managing stress and have realized I'm clenching my teeth during the day too. I'm worried about cracking my teeth, and I'm having regular pain in my jaw. Anyone have experience with products to wear during the day to help?

 

[Pooh2]

I got the mouth guard made at the dentist.
I was surprised my dental insurance covered it.
Definitely helps!

 

[nw6675]

My dentist recommended a night guard for me and my husband. We haven't gotten them, but as the pp mentioned, our insurance covers it.

 

[AgentMama]

Do you find the night guard helps with daytime issues too?

 

[KatMac]

I’m so sorry you’re having that problem. I have also struggled with bruxism and have already lost a tooth to it. I cracked it all the way down the root and had to have it removed. The pain was unreal. I’m sure I have several minor cracks in other teeth, but as long as I don’t grind, they don’t hurt. Even a little clenching will make the pain act up. The guards just didn’t work for me. Their presence just made me want to chew/clamp down on them, which made the problem worse.

Since you’ve recognized that stress is the major cause, it might help you to identify the stress factors and find ways to deal with them. Several years ago, my mom started to develop dementia. Sometimes she would get really mean and my grinding/clenching was related to those episodes. Identifying the trigger made it easier to stop. I found that distracting myself by sucking hard candy or popsicles helped a lot. You’re not as likely to clench if you’re sucking a popsicle. Also, my doctor prescribed Valium for when my mom got really bad. Oddly enough, just having the Valium available helped. I’ve rarely had to take it. My mom eventually realized her episodes were hurting me and she got some counseling to help her control the anger. Since then, my clenching has all but stopped. If it’s caused by stress, getting the stress factor under control is the cure. Everything else is a band-aid.

Good luck! I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.

 

[DLgal]

Do you find the night guard helps with daytime issues too?

You can wear the night guard during the day. It just clips into your upper teeth. I have had a night guard for over a decade and when I find myself daytime clenching, I wear it for a few days until I stop.

I also chew gum a LOT. It keeps my mouth busy. Although when I'm having a flare up of jaw pain or spasms, I lay off the gum.

Using a warm compress on your jaw and temple helps relax the muscles and reduces the pain.

Definitely get a mouth guard. Your dental insurance likely won't cover the full cost, but it's cheaper than a crown or root canal down the line. Also, clenching and grinding can affect your gums also, causing recession. Not something to take lightly.

 

[DLgal]

I’m so sorry you’re having that problem. I have also struggled with bruxism and have already lost a tooth to it. I cracked it all the way down the root and had to have it removed. The pain was unreal. I’m sure I have several minor cracks in other teeth, but as long as I don’t grind, they don’t hurt. Even a little clenching will make the pain act up. The guards just didn’t work for me. Their presence just made me want to chew/clamp down on them, which made the problem worse.

Since you’ve recognized that stress is the major cause, it might help you to identify the stress factors and find ways to deal with them. Several years ago, my mom started to develop dementia. Sometimes she would get really mean and my grinding/clenching was related to those episodes. Identifying the trigger made it easier to stop. I found that distracting myself by sucking hard candy or popsicles helped a lot. You’re not as likely to clench if you’re sucking a popsicle. Also, my doctor prescribed Valium for when my mom got really bad. Oddly enough, just having the Valium available helped. I’ve rarely had to take it. My mom eventually realized her episodes were hurting me and she got some counseling to help her control the anger. Since then, my clenching has all but stopped. If it’s caused by stress, getting the stress factor under control is the cure. Everything else is a band-aid.

Good luck! I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.

I have ground right through 2 mouth guards so far. The last one I got was made thicker so it would last longer. It's now 7 years old, so it's holding up, although there are a couple spots that are almost ground through.

The mouth guards won't STOP you from clenching or grinding, they are just designed to take the impact, rather than your teeth.

It is also definitely important to identify the cause of your stress so that you can address the reason you are clenching/grinding, especially if it's happening during the day.

 

[rjb123]

Sigh. Me too. I need a mouth guard- this spring during lock down I managed to break two crowns and one filling. I noted the other day that I may have broken a filling again. UGHHHH

 

[ronandannette]

A dentist I consulted with really recommended this but my own dentist (who I totally trust) wasn't using it in her practice. It is something to think about though.
https://www.facialesthetics.org/bru...ting small doses of,the teeth due to grinding.

 

[stsomewhere]

My 19 year old daughter was clenching her teeth so hard at night the teeth were chipping. They were moving out of place. Her dentist recommended Invisalign to move the teeth back in place and protect them from chipping. It has helped.

 

[AustinTink]

This guy has several videos that have helped me immensely with teeth grinding and TMJ.

 

[Kailani6]

I had tmj issues (from grinding/clenching) for years. Tried 3 different night guards and it helped a little bit but nothing major. The 3rd person I went to for a nightguard mentioned a colleague of his was doing a study on B2-riboflavin (400mg/day) and tmj. I figured I had nothing to lose. That was many years ago and I still take 400mg a day. It really helps a lot for the tightness in my jaw. Ive also read studies that it helps with migraines as well

In addition to the B2 I wear a nightguard and stay away from really chewy foods (gum, chewy candy etc)

 

[mitchelfanny]

If you want to reduce your pain, then drink a stress relief tea, and either massage or stretch your muscles to relax them. Chewing on pencils will increase your likeliness to clench your teeth. Don't eat any type of food which may increase your pain. Avoid chewing gum as well.May be this article helps out for you:

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’ve chewed thru 4 so far my teeth consider them a challenge but the headaches get so bad I have to wear them
Massage helps
Manage stress to whatever level you can helps
The guards help - make them thick
Relax exercises help
I grind day and night - so when I catch myself doing it during the day - stop take a breath - relax - readjust my thoughts - relax my jaw - thru the years I’ve taught myself to try and not do it during the day - nothing I can do about it at night but wear my guard and tell my teeth to knock it off
#5 is getting thin so I’ll be getting a new one soon
Interesting things to try on this thread - thank you!! Love hearing what works for others I’m going to try some of them !
I wish you to best of luck - please get a guard - I hope you find relief and don’t impact your teeth!!

 

[anniemae]

Has anyone tried an OTC night guard? My dentist charges about $600 for one and not covered by ins.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Has anyone tried an OTC night guard? My dentist charges about $600 for one and not covered by ins.

So definitely try an OTC one if you like, but the one at the dentist is molded specifically for your teeth and may provide better results. If you are only grinding the OTC one should help. I have jaw pain caused from nighttime clenching so I opted for the molded dental appliance. They don't last forever and may last an especially short period depending on how bad the problem is so it can get costly. Mine was only partially covered by insurance and the OOP was about $325. It's worth a shot to try the OTC one. My dentist recommends trying it before you pull the trigger on the expensive one.

 

[princesscinderella]

Teeth grinding can also be a sign of sleep apnea. Your dentist can make an appliance that will help both the grinding and the apena. It’s custom molded to fit both your top and bottom teeth and to maintain an airway opening. We make these appliances at our dental practice and all of our patients love them, they do take a bit of patience to get used to them in the beginning. Here’s a link to the lab company we usually use so you can see what they look like.

https://somnomed.com/en/patients/somnodent-product-information-for-patients/

 

[SueInBoston]

I tried an OTC, but it never worked for me. I went to my kids' old orthodontist and he custom made one for me for $100.

 

[AussieFan8]

My daughter grinds her teeth so much that her teeth have worn down. An orthodontist had told her that after she had braces, her teeth would be aligned and the grinding would stop, but that didn't happen. She finally gave in and got a custom mouth guard she wears at night. Unfortunately, our insurance didn't cover it, but it was worth the expense.

 

[DisneyMomof4_86]

I have been a teeth clencher/grinder at night for awhile, but lately, I've had trouble managing stress and have realized I'm clenching my teeth during the day too. I'm worried about cracking my teeth, and I'm having regular pain in my jaw. Anyone have experience with products to wear during the day to help?

As a dental hygienist I can tell you this , be very careful buying products over the counter , especially “soft” guards. Believe or not , our brains want to clench down on these and squeeze into them rather than grind which can cause TMJD (TMJ disorder ) also, they are not custom fit to your mouth and occlusion (bite) so they can cause more TMJ issues for you. As with what other people have said , your BEST option is to see the dentist for a special fabricated guard that is made in a lab and properly adjusted to your bite . Also, there are many different types of guards . Some guards keep you from closing down on your back teeth and you only bite on your front ( NTI) then there are full acrylic occlusal guards that you basically grind on instead of wearing down your teeth. If you are buying a guard from the pharmacy , use this VERY short term ! Another thing you need to be careful of is proper fit , if the guard you buy ( boil and bite ) doesn't fit properly , it can dislodge at night and you can choke on it .
To help with jaw pain , muscle pain you can take NSAIDS , like Advil and do warm compresses on your cheeks . Good luck ! I’m a clencher! I feel your pain !