Help! Teeth clenching/grinding causing lack of sleep, exhausted after exercise.... - Page 4

Orlita · 10-23-09, 09:42 AM

If you're a serious grinder, like I am, I can't stress enough that those over the counter & mail order bite guards may not last long at all. I've bought them in a pinch, but I'm a champion biter and can lay one to waste within a week.

I grind my way through the professional ones, too, eventually. But they usually last me a few years. So for me, the pricey ones are money well spent. The price can vary tremendously, though. So ask around. One TMJ specialist charged me freaking $700. She swore her miracle guard would stop my grinding, which it didn't. But it did last a long time. (Have I carped about this on this thread already? Apologies if so. When the thread gets revived, my anger at this snotty specialist gets revived -- grrrr clench clench clench)

I later was talked by yet another dentist into the little one that goes on your front teeth, which, as I recall, was also several hundred $$. I was told it'd be the answer. It actually made things worse, as I contorted my mouth in order to be able to get my molars together and clench. So that was garbage to me. Totally useless. Absolutely painful.

After all that, I was averse to dishing out for yet another new guard from my new dentist, but I finally caved. And he only charged me something like $175. I was amazed! Wish I'd asked sooner. That said, I'm grinding my way through it more quickly than the $700 one. But it's been maybe a year.

Anyway... take with a grain of salt any specialist who says a guard will eradicate grinding/clenching. Maybe it will for some, but for me it did not. And if you're a die-hard grinder, I can only say that over the counter solutions, while inexpensive, might not be the best investment. I wish I'd put that $10 here and $25 there toward my $175 guard.

KarenH · 10-23-09, 09:46 AM

I have had TMJ for over a year. The dentist made me a $300 nightguard that only added to my TMJ pain. Found another dentist who said that clenching down on a nightguard sends the motion into my jaw so that when I clench my teeth, the hard plastic sends the pressure into the jaw bones which adds to my TMJ. So I found something that is cheap that really has helped me. I took a piece of cotton and put it on my teeth so that when I clench at night, the cotton separates my teeth and because it is soft, it does not affect my jaw!! I first used cotton on both sides of my mouth, and am now down to just one side as that will keep my teeth from hitting and doesn't move my jaw out of alignment like the nightguard did. Use just an amount of cotton that will keep the teeth from grinding. I have found that one cotton ball lasts me over a week! Alot cheaper than what they want to sell you.

Castella · 10-23-09, 09:58 AM

I can't believe so many of you are getting mouth guards from your dentists for under $600.

Where I live, all the dentists charge $600 for a guard (for just one half of your mouth yet, either bottom or top).

One thing my dentist said about the OTC mouth guards is that they tend to be softer, almost gummy, and for some people that seems to encourage biting and clenching. (my thought on this: whatever! since I really hate the super hard, super expensive mouth guard they made me) (and my dentist also admitted after the fact that she hates her OWN mouth guard!)

boakley · 10-23-09, 10:30 AM

I've had TMJ for over 10 years. I haven't, knock wood, had a bad flare up in a year, and prior to that it had been several years. I have a bite plate my dentist made, but the last time this reared it's ugly head, he also got me using hot compresses on the side of my face before bed - it really relaxes the muscles and has worked wonders for me. All I do is take a face cloth and wet it with as hot as I can stand water and lay it/press it against the side of my jaw that is the most tense. It's worth a try and inexpensive.

Beth

superfit41 · 10-23-09, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castella

Where I live, dentist-made mouth guards start at $600 and TMJ evaluation is ~ $1300. I have a mouth guard but don't use it. I absolutely hate it. (just think, $600 that could have been spent on fitness equipment!) I try to be aware of grinding and de-stress, but I also have gum problems and any stress whatsoever seems to trigger a flare-up.

Grinding is really bad for your teeth, it can cause tiny cracks in the enamel and then bacteria can get in there and then you're looking at a root canal and crown.

I always say, teeth are the reason I stopped believing in evolution.

Ugh, I just finished with my root canal yesterday

I ended up having to have my tooth crowned (the one I cracked from clenching), and it turned out I also had nerve damage, so this week I had to have a root canal as well. I wished I had gotten the night guard a long time ago, it might have saved me a lot of pain and money!

Sherry
Who is currently on a semi-liquid diet

Orlita · 10-23-09, 02:08 PM

I have 2 crowns now on my primary grinders. No root canals, fortunately.

bzar · 10-23-09, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boakley

he also got me using hot compresses on the side of my face before bed - it really relaxes the muscles and has worked wonders for me.

my E-N-T doc also had me on the same regimen. he recommended the neck area too for the warm compresses in addition to the jaw areas.

prior to this, my dentist had made me a nightguard. i lost it somewhere, and now, i just use an athletic teeth guard from walmart (you boil it to customize it to your mouth).

but i don't use it. i've gotten the stress under control.

tigerbaby · 10-23-09, 03:04 PM

I wear a device called an NTI. It can fit on your lower front 2 teeth or bottom 2. Mine is fit for my bottom 2. I'm a clencher and this prevents your molars from touching at all. It has helped me tremendously. Rarely do I forget to wear it, but when I do I wake up with a sore neck, jaw, teeth and a MAJOR heachache. Dr. Jim Boyd designed the device and has info re: TMJ and tension headaches on his site.

I don't think there is a perfect answer for everyone and unfortunately, not any one thing works for everyone. It really is trial and error and I went through many things before finding what worked best for me.

Orlita · 10-23-09, 03:11 PM

NTI is the one that I couldn't use for more than a couple of days because it made me contort my mouth in order to grind, further increasing the pain. Major league money down the drain for me.

But apparently it has been the answer for some people.

superfit41 · 10-23-09, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbaby

I wear a device called an NTI. It can fit on your lower front 2 teeth or bottom 2. Mine is fit for my bottom 2. I'm a clencher and this prevents your molars from touching at all. It has helped me tremendously. Rarely do I forget to wear it, but when I do I wake up with a sore neck, jaw, teeth and a MAJOR heachache. Dr. Jim Boyd designed the device and has info re: TMJ and tension headaches on his site.

I don't think there is a perfect answer for everyone and unfortunately, not any one thing works for everyone. It really is trial and error and I went through many things before finding what worked best for me.

I have this one as well. The one that fits on the top 2 teeth. I cannot sleep without it. It is strange looking, but it works great!

Sherry

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10-23-09, 09:42 AM
Orlita Join Date: Dec 2006	If you're a serious grinder, like I am, I can't stress enough that those over the counter & mail order bite guards may not last long at all. I've bought them in a pinch, but I'm a champion biter and can lay one to waste within a week. I grind my way through the professional ones, too, eventually. But they usually last me a few years. So for me, the pricey ones are money well spent. The price can vary tremendously, though. So ask around. One TMJ specialist charged me freaking $700. She swore her miracle guard would stop my grinding, which it didn't. But it did last a long time. (Have I carped about this on this thread already? Apologies if so. When the thread gets revived, my anger at this snotty specialist gets revived -- grrrr clench clench clench) I later was talked by yet another dentist into the little one that goes on your front teeth, which, as I recall, was also several hundred $$. I was told it'd be the answer. It actually made things worse, as I contorted my mouth in order to be able to get my molars together and clench. So that was garbage to me. Totally useless. Absolutely painful. After all that, I was averse to dishing out for yet another new guard from my new dentist, but I finally caved. And he only charged me something like $175. I was amazed! Wish I'd asked sooner. That said, I'm grinding my way through it more quickly than the $700 one. But it's been maybe a year. Anyway... take with a grain of salt any specialist who says a guard will eradicate grinding/clenching. Maybe it will for some, but for me it did not. And if you're a die-hard grinder, I can only say that over the counter solutions, while inexpensive, might not be the best investment. I wish I'd put that $10 here and $25 there toward my $175 guard.

10-23-09, 09:46 AM
KarenH Join Date: Apr 2004	I have had TMJ for over a year. The dentist made me a $300 nightguard that only added to my TMJ pain. Found another dentist who said that clenching down on a nightguard sends the motion into my jaw so that when I clench my teeth, the hard plastic sends the pressure into the jaw bones which adds to my TMJ. So I found something that is cheap that really has helped me. I took a piece of cotton and put it on my teeth so that when I clench at night, the cotton separates my teeth and because it is soft, it does not affect my jaw!! I first used cotton on both sides of my mouth, and am now down to just one side as that will keep my teeth from hitting and doesn't move my jaw out of alignment like the nightguard did. Use just an amount of cotton that will keep the teeth from grinding. I have found that one cotton ball lasts me over a week! Alot cheaper than what they want to sell you.

10-23-09, 09:58 AM
Castella Join Date: Nov 2003	I can't believe so many of you are getting mouth guards from your dentists for under $600. Where I live, all the dentists charge $600 for a guard (for just one half of your mouth yet, either bottom or top). One thing my dentist said about the OTC mouth guards is that they tend to be softer, almost gummy, and for some people that seems to encourage biting and clenching. (my thought on this: whatever! since I really hate the super hard, super expensive mouth guard they made me) (and my dentist also admitted after the fact that she hates her OWN mouth guard!)

10-23-09, 10:30 AM
boakley VF Supporter Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Nova Scotia	I've had TMJ for over 10 years. I haven't, knock wood, had a bad flare up in a year, and prior to that it had been several years. I have a bite plate my dentist made, but the last time this reared it's ugly head, he also got me using hot compresses on the side of my face before bed - it really relaxes the muscles and has worked wonders for me. All I do is take a face cloth and wet it with as hot as I can stand water and lay it/press it against the side of my jaw that is the most tense. It's worth a try and inexpensive. Beth __________________ If you don't run you rust Tom Petty

10-23-09, 02:08 PM
Orlita Join Date: Dec 2006	I have 2 crowns now on my primary grinders. No root canals, fortunately.

10-23-09, 03:04 PM
tigerbaby Join Date: Sep 2007	I wear a device called an NTI. It can fit on your lower front 2 teeth or bottom 2. Mine is fit for my bottom 2. I'm a clencher and this prevents your molars from touching at all. It has helped me tremendously. Rarely do I forget to wear it, but when I do I wake up with a sore neck, jaw, teeth and a MAJOR heachache. Dr. Jim Boyd designed the device and has info re: TMJ and tension headaches on his site. I don't think there is a perfect answer for everyone and unfortunately, not any one thing works for everyone. It really is trial and error and I went through many things before finding what worked best for me. __________________ Tiffany

10-23-09, 03:11 PM
Orlita Join Date: Dec 2006	NTI is the one that I couldn't use for more than a couple of days because it made me contort my mouth in order to grind, further increasing the pain. Major league money down the drain for me. But apparently it has been the answer for some people.