I grind my teeth in my sleep. It started a little over a decade ago, early in my LE career, apparently as a reaction to the stress. It's totally involuntary, since I don't do it when I'm awake.

My dentist outfits me with custom night guards, to help minimize the damage to my teeth. And for years, that has helped. But for the last couple months, I've noticed that my jaw is increasingly sore, especially on the left side. It seems like my nightly grinding is starting to affect my jaw, and I'm apparently starting down the road to TMJ Disorder.

I consulted with my dentist, and he did some poking and prodding, and then suggested that I take ibuprofen, put ice on my jaw as needed, and to "try to lower my stress level".

Has anyone else gone through this before?

Short of quitting my stressful career to become a full-time puppy wrestler and flower sniffer, what sort of other stuff can I do to minimize the continuing damage to my jaw?

Hi,

Now and then when I get a bit stressed it feels like the stress goes to my jaw. Like you, I don't clench my jaw during the day, but during stressful times I've noticed that my jaw muscles feel a bit sore or fatigued, like I've been chewing a lot. Perhaps I clench them at night. Not sure. I searched for info on how to relax my jaw and I found a few videos on how to massage your jaw muscles to relieve tension and soreness. It really worked for me. It loosened up my jaw muscles and I felt some stress leave that area. Perhaps you could try something like that. Hope it helps.

Chris

I don't grind, but I clench. I do it during the day too. I never noticed it until I had a bad run of jaw popping/soreness. I practiced loosening my jaw consciously & it helped a lot. Now I notice that I unconsciously relax my jaw often, so I think it worked.
I think getting a cpap also helped, but have no proof to back that up.

My girlfriend is currently dealing with this. Grinds her teeth in her sleep. Dentist made a custom mouth guard about two years ago. She barely uses it.

A couple of months ago her jaw locked up. She went to the pcp, then an ENT because her ear hurt too so they thought it might be an ear issue. Then to an oral surgeon.

Long story short the disk is out of place, she needs arthroscopy to clean it out and reposition the joint.

Yeah. I also have a custom mouthguard from my dentist. It has a shelf behind the upper central incisors that...does something. In reality, it just keeps me from touching upper and lower teeth. I never could wear both upper and lower guards. I wore the lower alone for awhile. Now I don’t wear either. I admit, my gag reflex is ridiculous. Wish it would work; the need is still there.

Well I’m currently wearing a splint 24/7.


My bite went all wonky after 54 years, only 2 teeth are touching. Fancy orthodontist made the thing about as much as braces at some point I’ll probably be in true braces again then if they have there way cut my jaw loose and put it back properly. That ain’t happening no f’ng way.

The point of this is you might try the fancy orthodontist. I had all manner of unexplainable pains from earache to shoulder and neck pain that has mostly gone away. Don’t put it off too long I was close to beyond the splint treatment.

I had my first episode of maxillofacial pain at 18 or 19 from bruxing. Jaw locked up and the muscles on the back of my head were in knots. Doctor treated it with muscle relaxers and pain meds and was told to reduce stress (like I really had any at that age).

I had several more bouts through my 20s. At 30, I had braces put on to align my bite (never had them as a kid and had some jacked up choppers). The pain of the braces prevented me from grinding, and the new proper alignment prevented my body from trying to even the teeth out. Now, nearly 25 years later, I still don't grind, even though my stress is considerably higher now.