Clenching/Grinding Teeth

[LewisS]

Hello,

I just wanted to ask whether this happens to anybody else. Every couple of weeks I wake up frequently throughout the night with my bottom and top teeth clenched together and grinding against one and other and I have even chipped my bonded tooth because of it. It has only started happening since I got my braces almost 18 months ago.

In regards to the chip in my bonding and a little one on my actual tooth - would my ortho be able to shave those down for me at my next visit? I'm so worried that my teeth are going to look horrible by the time I get them off and I will have tons of chips! My after pictures are going to look amazing...

They're only tiny chips, but the bonding on my two front teeth is really easily damaged - obviously it's not as strong as tooth enamel. I'm probably going to have to get them veneered after my braces treatment because they are constantly falling out and needing to be replaced!

Thank you for any reponses!

[thisgal201]

I would wake up with my teeth clenched many times while in braces. I can't recall that happening before I had them. I know I have read of it happening to others as well.

[TMJJill]

I had issues with clenching/grinding pretty badly during my treatment. My understanding, in very basic terms, is that the jaw is subconsciously trying to find a 'good' bite while things are changing during treatment. In my case, I not only clenched my teeth, I was chomping down hard enough on my tongue while I slept that I would frequently wake myself... which really messed with my sleep over time, and I ended up with a large ridge on the inside of my cheeks. The tongue scallops from the chomping when I slept were very attractive.

When things were at their worst, I ended up with frequent visits with my Orthodontist and ENT. When you clench and grind, the muscles are constantly clenched and can spasm a lot which makes things worse. My Orthodontist tried several things to help me get through the transitions. There wasn't one easy answer though since I had to give up my splints with the braces. I did ultrasound treatments of my jaw, used essential oils to help calm the muscles, had PT (manual therapy) of the jaw and neck, and tried elastic configurations when I slept at night to help out. At the worst time, my ENT gave me some medications to help me relax some so I could sleep. (Just for a couple weeks.)

I will say that things got better over time, but it did take some time for my bite to come into place. I ended up requesting a new sleep splint when I got my retainers ... just because I worried about continuing to clench when I got my braces off.

[GypsyCruiser]

Same type of thing happens to me too. In my sleep I will snap my mouth shut....and sometimes bite my tongue or lip. Notice I am biting my lip without knowing it....the snapping hurts. Once woke up with blood in my mouth and my lip was bleeding a bit. Never did that before braces. Strange things happen when one is braced.

[Woobster]

I do this almost nightly. It's actually one of the main reasons I am back in braces 20 years after having them the first time.

My ortho made me a splint that covers just my back teeth. He adjusts it as needed and will probably have to make a whole new one a couple of times throughout my treatment. This was all a part of my treatment plan.

I do still clench, and probably always will. I have a stressful job and it's just my way of handling the stress. The splint does keep my bite in the proper alignment though, and it has kept me from grinding.

[mapleleafman888]

Occasionally I wake up with a clenched jaw, even broke off one of my bite turbos a couple weeks ago. For the better part of braces though I'd say that my clenching has not been as bad as before braces (I think I sub-counsciously realize that pushing and grinding to try to fix my bite isn't neccesary).

[brunaigh]

I do this in my sleep to the point where it has loosened a pre molar (susceptible due to pre existing perio issues), something I have found that helps is before i go to bed rub a little pure lavendar ESSENTIAL (nor purfume) oil on my face around the jawline. Be careful and do a test patch wtih the lavender first as some people have allergies :)