Clenching and grinding!! Help

[Jaydee83]

OK so I've clenched and grinded my teeth for a while and I've recently gone through sarpe surgery to expand my palate because of tmj issues and since surgery my clenching and grinding hurts soooo much more and I know it's because of the surgery problem is I have had a bite splint for the last year and a half which helps but when I get my braces soon I can't wear it!! My ortho is not a fan of splints for bruxism I don't know what to do?!?

[cbraces678]

Hi!

I clench and grind also, and this was also a concern of mine. It's actually the reason I got braces in the first place. Bruxism caused my teeth and my bite to shift. My ortho also said no splits or anything during my time with braces as well. I have had molar build ups most of the time over the last 6 months which I found sort of helps because my bite was really open and I wasn't clenching teeth on teeth. However, now we are just starting to work on getting my bite right, so my build ups are smaller and I do have teeth contacting teeth. I still grind and clench at night. I noticed my jaw pops a lot more now as well which I attribute to clenching with a really awkward bite. I was basically told I just have to get through it with my braces. It helps to work on the clenching. Try conciously relaxing your jaw during the day and working on any built up stress or calming techniques. I actually found sleep hypnosis helps my clenching. You can find that on youtube, apple music, etc. It may seem silly, but I noticed a difference. You may be pleasantly surprised though. I used to have unbearable headaches in the morning if I didn't wear a guard at night, but ever since being braced and wearing no guards or anything I haven't had even one headache. I guess over the time I was wearing the guard maybe my clenching got better but I would have never known because of the guard. I can tell I still clench a lot because I wake up in the night because of it, but no headaches makes me feel like it's improved a lot. Hopefully it goes ok for you! My ortho did say that if the clenching became a big issue and there was severe pain or issues with the teeth that then we would discuss it and make a plan, but first we had to see how it goes. Thankfully I haven't had to bring it up. I'm interested to hear others experiences.

[wendydong]

i bought a shockdoctor adult braces mouth guard... personally, i found it a bit too big for my mouth, but u can try it out yourself

[Speck]

IMHO, putting an end to a deleterious habit isn’t difficult; all one needs do is resolve to end it—that’s the tough part. Once one makes up his/her mind to stop doing a thing, the habit goes away comparatively easily. Good luck with the clenching/grinding issue!

Of course, while sleeping, a night-guard might be a good idea.

[Jaydee83]

I'm a chef by trade and my job is stressful but not in a bad way its healthy stress keeps me on my toes and focused I also don't feel like I'm grinding and clenching out of stress but hey I don't know for sure? I wake up with a headache and sore teeth everyday that I don't wear my splint so I'm not looking forward to not wearing it!

[braceace]

[quote=Speck post_id=505431 time=1541524067 user_id=32114]
IMHO, putting an end to a deleterious habit isn’t difficult; all one needs do is resolve to end it—that’s the tough part. Once one makes up his/her mind to stop doing a thing, the habit goes away comparatively easily. Good luck with the clenching/grinding issue! :)

Of course, while sleeping, a night-guard might be a good idea.
[/quote]

I think to say it's just a "resolve and do it" thing is ignoring the fact that often clenching and grinding is a more of a physical tick thing rather than just a "oh hey I do this" thing. That's defo the case for me. I have a couple of facial ticks, and clenching and pushing my teeth together is not something that I am able to control well bc my mouth just does it.

[Speck]

Involuntary muscle twitches/spasms are, no doubt, unsettling. Hopefully, it's nothing serious.

[INgirl]

I am new to this board altogether and chose to follow “Bruxism” — pretty much for the past five years I’ve had issues when it comes to this in the terms of clenching with very mild grinding — I am a 45-year-old female that change occupations pretty much five years ago and have had the issue ever since... it’s a no brainer that there is a contributing factor my new occupation is causing me lots of stress and making me clench. I had braces when I was a middle schooler, everyone is always commenting how beautiful my teeth are including my dentists along the way — well five years ago my teeth became loose and my stress level became off the charts — I do love my job with a passion, but it is all encompassing meaning it starts at 8 AM and it doesn’t end until midnight (Because I have to eat and sleep) Mon. through Friday.

As of April of this year I have braces back on my teeth in an attempt to stabilize my teeth and make them no longer mobile.

I have met with a team of specialists prior to braces to make sure my gums are healthy and the roots are not damaged and they are all good — thank God — but my problem is — still my non stop clenching during treatment— keep busting the wires — my orthodontist and dental hygienist team seem to be perplexed on me breaking the wires — apparently they haven’t had a clencher before? Because my job is all encompassing it’s difficult to leave and drive an hour away to my orthodontist to replace the wire. Two months ago— I decided to order the wire myself online and practically becoming my own dental hygienist replacing the wire myself.

Last month when it broke I simply called their office and they shipped me a replacement wire.

I’ve now been doing a lot of research online on the weekends to understand Bruxism, treatments, causes, arch wires, etc.

I am wanting to know has anyone in this situation found a particular archwire that has withstood breakage with Bruxism.

Also important to note, my current orthodontist did find issues with my teeth when I initially came in for the consultation ... he pointed out that a person’s top and bottom teeth are not supposed to touch, mine were touching. Looking back at my molds that I had when I was 16 years old (yes, I still had them) when I think I got my braces off and originally were given my first set of retainers... actually showed my bottom teeth touching my top teeth — exactly how they were to the day I met with my current orthodontist.

Matter of fact I could still fit my old retainers in — My current dentist actually had me wearing my old retainers because I told him my clenching was prevented when I would wear my old retainers because the wire got in the way and made me not clench as hard. The only problem there is I busted them all up because I eventually bit through the wire.

I am now in braces to fix my bite — Among maybe other things - to make sure my bottom teeth are not touching my top teeth.

Every single month since I’ve had these braces on I’ve broke the top, bottom, one or the other, or both wires. It’s really annoying to have to drive back an hour do you have the wire replaced. I think what I will have to do is talk with them next time and get several replica wires to take with me knowing I will be breaking the wire at some point in time in between the treatment before I go back for my next ortho appointment.

I honestly do not mind replacing the wire myself — i’ve actually got quite good at it and fast. A lot faster than driving an hour there and an hour back.

I’m pretty sure once I leave this job — I will find instant relief — because no job can be as stressful as this one that’s for sure and I do not have an outlet to go jog or exercise like I used to in my other profession which may have been preventing me from feeling the effects of Bruxism.

If someone can tell me what kind of wire they have had the best luck with and has with stood their clenching please do let me know!

It also might be important to note I do not have clenching or grinding issues whatsoever at night when I sleep. I wake up 100% refreshed although I’m only able to sleep Sunday through Thursday around 4 to 6 hours each night due to my workload.

Also important to note my job doesn’t grow on trees I’ve literally got to contact companies plant the seed of hiring me and then they have to actually propose the position and I have to apply for it. So it takes a lot of work to get a new job.

Thanks for your help!

[INgirl]

I just figured out how to post a new topic solo from this particular question. I did post the same content in the new topic area as well. Once I figure out how to delete a comment of mine in someone else’s post topic I will delete this one from your particular question. Thank you!

[INgirl]

Sorry 😐— looks like my posts are stuck here redundant because I’m a newbie — sorry everyone:


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