What can I do to stop clenching my teeth/jaws!!!!?!


Question: What can I do to stop clenching my teeth/jaws!!!!!?
I have noticed that I clench my teeth/jaws extremely tight!. The only thing is I do unintentionally!.!.!. I only notice it when my temples start throbbing, behind my ears hurts like heck & I get HORRIBLE headaches!. I couldn't figure out what was causing my headaches, then I pinpointed it must be the teeth clenching!. I noticed I only tend to do it in the evening & tonight I have been conciously trying to not do it, but it is hard!.!.!. As soon as I forget about it I start feeling the pain & realizing I am doing it again!. I really don't know how long I have been doing this (since like I said it is "subconcious") but I really want to stop!.!.!. It hurts!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
I have the same problem but tend to clench/grind in my sleep!.

TM joint troubles are tough!. (Temporomandibular joint - where your lower jaw connects with your head by your ear)!.

If you're not getting exercise, start!. Alot of pent up stress/tension rears it's ugly head in the weirdest of ways and stress could be contributing to this!.

Also consider talking to your dentist or an orthodontist about having a hard acrylic splint called a nightguard or bruxism splint made (bruxism is the $50 word for grinding teeth)!. These prevent you from getting your teeth together to lock in and clench, but also the thickness of it separates the upper and lowers jaws and actually puts your tm joint in a more comfortable position!.

These splints aren't the cheapest thing, but if you have dental insurance you may be able to get a break and they're worth every penny, even if you have to foot the entire bill yourself!.

Otherwise some self care tips:

Don't open your mouth really wide - stifle yawns & avoid big sandwiches/burgers!.

Stop chewing gum or eating sticky/chewy foods that cause that repetitive chewing!.

Avoid caffeine!.

Exercise!.

Consider taking an anti-inflammatory like advil regularly (if you're a minor please make sure it's OK with your folks)!.

Alternate moist heat & cold packs on the tm joint!.

I hope this will help you out!. Talk with your Dr!. (DDS) he/she should have more insight for you!.

Good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com

I am a registerd dental assistant in North Los Angeles at a holistic dental office!. My Dr says grinding/clenching is due to a mineral defincey in your blood!. Its your bodys way of getting menerals into your blood from your teeth!. When the same thing happens in the bones, its called osteoperosis, eyes, its called glaucoma, ect!. You need to take minerals!. There is a nanotized organic product called "Intramax" that is filled with all your daily vitamins and minerals to get your body back on track!. Check out the website!.!.www!.druckerlabs!.com/intramax!. You could also get a nightgaurd, but that wont stop your clenching/grinding!. Only protect your teeth while you do it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

If you wake up with this soreness it sounds like you have bruxism (which simply means you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep)!. Here is a link for you for more info: http://www!.mayoclinic!.com (and search bruxism) You can ask your dentist about getting a custom made bite guard or depending on how bad it is, you may need a "splint" which is a bit more expensive!. Hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

chew gum!? ask your dentist about a mouthguard at night!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

hmm!.!. i do the same thing if I am concentrating really hard!. tell me if u get n e good answersWww@Answer-Health@Com

Before you go down the road of TMJ ( you do have the symptoms), there are over the counter bite guards you can purchase, even on the internet, there are kits to mold a guard, or you can get a super duper guard from your dentist anywhere from $150 up to $700!. I wear a simple soft plastic one on the bottom and a "de-programmer" on the top, which puts my jaw in a position where I can't bite, but I still found myself clenching onto the hard plastic behind my front teeth!. Massage techniques for the muscles of the face/head and neck help a lot!.
Also, take a damp washcloth and stick your tongue out, grab on to it and gently stretch it outwards and to the left and right, that helps relax the muscles!. Self-relaxation cd's can also get you to be aware of how hard you are clenching, and used before you sleep can relax your jaw for a good night's sleep!. But clenching is pretty unconscious so I would look in to a guard of some kind!. Good Luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com





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