Clenching

Message

#1 Post by **Skylark** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:17 pm

Hi,

Here's a quick rundown of my problem. I had braces for the second time a year ago - it was a compromise treatment to pull a few teeth back into alignment. It was supposed to improve my bite slightly (a lot of pressure was on one tooth) but not to make it perfect.

Since having my braces off, I've been clenching on and off (for about 6 months now, though it comes and goes). I often wake up with a tired and achy jaw on one side and my teeth are tender (my bite is worse on the left). I have permanent retainers top and bottom and sleep in a tray (Essix I think? One that stops the teeth biting together). So far my teeth seem protected but I'm worried about my jaw.

I was never aware of clenching before I had braces (although I now wonder if that's what pushed them out of line in the first place) so I'm a bit disappointed that it seems to be bringing me more trouble.

What I want to know is will permanent and essix retainers protect my teeth from movement and decay?

Also, is the clenching ever likely to stop if my bite isn't perfect? My top left molars don't meet my bottom ones exactly. I've read other people's clenching comes and goes but I'm worried about permanent teeth and jaw damage.

Any advice on minimising clenching appreciated! I'd particularly like to know if there is any way of teaching yourself to stop?? xx

#2 Post by **Skylark** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:48 am

My retainer is some kind of thick, strengthened plastic so is wearing well so far. In fact, I had Invisalign for 6 months to finish my treatment and that never wore through so maybe I grind on and off. I did start clenching just before I got my retainer so I'm not sure that is causing it, but I'm worried that it's also not protecting my joints.

Has anyone on here taught themselves not to clench? And how can you protect your joints?

Thanks xx

#3 Post by **catfish** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:40 pm

Meryaten - I love your story about dreaming you were biting into crusty bread. That is TOO FUNNY!!!

I have no idea what I do when I'm asleep, but I know I clench during the day. Particularly if I'm stressed or daydreaming (and I do a lot of the latter...) My perio gave me a night guard a long time ago, and it never fit right so that was a waste of several hundred dollars.

I have tried to develop the habit of just keeping my teeth apart, and that seemed to help. I don't really know of a suggestion for how to do that. I just decided to do it, and did it whenever I caught myself clenching. After awhile, I found that it became my normal resting position and it seems to have helped. I still clench, but not as often.

Good luck with this! Those subconscious habits are hard to modify!

#4 Post by **Skylark** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:55 pm

Hi Catfish,

Thanks for the advice! I've been really trying to keep my teeth apart when I sleep this week and it does seem to have helped. Who knows what happens when I actually fall asleep but I'm not waking up with the same pain on the left so I must be doing something right!

Has your clenching done any long term damage? My teeth are protected by an acrylic guard at night, but as I said above, I do worry about all that pressure on the jaw joints.

#5 Post by **Chris** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:39 pm

I wear my essix or hawleys at night AND my trusty nightguard...www.splintek.com. It has definitely helped me with no more jaw aching or clenching. You can find it at your local pharmacy drug store and it costs about $40. Its been a life saver for me and my teeth. I tried the expensive custom made nightguard and that made my teeth hurt more. Try it.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:45 pm

I just got my braces off last monday and I have noticed that just like you I am clenching and my right jaw hurts. My dentist told me a few years back that I have TMJ and put me on an occlusal splint to wear at night, this was before braces, and it helped tremendously. He also told me to wear it whenever I felt stressed because it can cause to unconsciously clench which is very true. The fact that you have clenching makes me wonder if this is an after-effect of the braces. But with the appliances that you wear at night your teeth should be protected from damage. The whole purpose of the occlusal splint is to keep your teeth slightly apart so your jaw rests in it's natural position. I also checked out some other websites on this issue and they say to try putting your tongue in between your molars to keep your jaw slightly open which is supposed to help keep you from clenching, it works if you remember to do it. So if you're like me and clench during stressful situations try the tongue thing, if it doesn't work then talk to your dentist about an occlusal splint that you can where whenever you need to during stressful situations
Good Luck and I hope this helps

#7 Post by **Chris** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:59 pm

happybutterfly531 wrote:they say to try putting your tongue in between your molars to keep your jaw slightly open which is supposed to help keep you from clenching,

That use to put indentations on the sides of my tongue.

Really, try the Nightguard from Splintek. Because of the butterfly wings, it actually feels like you are naturally propping open your mouth. I wake up with my mouth open many times, while in the past without it I would wake up with my jaw clenched and aching.

#8 Post by **MaliceEllie** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:20 pm

I clentched my teeth alot during the day before i had braces and then after i got them on my teeth would suddenly mash together and a horrible pain would rip through my jaw from where my braces where correcting my teeth(everyone knows how tender they get)

well i havent done it since that first month but that was only because of the pain....

all i can suggest is trying the nightgard...it seems to help all my friends that have issues like mine and yours

#9 Post by **Skylark** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:29 am

Thanks for all your advice guys!

I'm still clenching on and off - it seems a common problem. My ortho said I could possibly go back into braces as a last resort to correct my bite but even that wouldn't necessarily help the clenching pain. The acrylic retainer corrects my bite anyway at night. I think I'm going to just keep teaching myself not to do it - and possibly try the guard mentioned on here as well as my acrylic retainer.

Thanks again and if anyone has any other clenching ideas then please post them on here...

x

#10 Post by **Her** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:05 am

Okay!!

SO...is it possible to wear a nightguard with a hawley retainer? Because I have tmj and have a mouth guard made by a cranial specialist. Obviously, it does not fit anymore since my teeth ahve shifted. Since removing braces, I have been grinding away. I tried picking up a night guard at the local pharmacy but chickened out when the box said..."do not use if you have retainers...blah blah"

do you guys wear a nightguard along with your reatiners...or do your retainers double as your nightguards??

#11 Post by **KARESS** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:21 am

i started clenching after I got my braces on
I notice early in the morning my teeth are together..mainly because of the bands I wear at night
But during the day I find myself doing it too..i dont know why.

Metal Mouth Message Board

Clenching - help!

Clenching - help!

Re: Clenching