And what can you do, other than wear those mouth guards?
I broke a tooth yesterday and was telling a couple co-workers, and one of them said that he grinds his teeth at night and every October (a month into the new school year, of course!) he breaks a tooth.
I had a feeling I was doing this because I had been waking up with an ache in my jaw and my jaw also clicks when I eat. I don't know if they are related and I don't know what can be done.
MrsERod
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
OMG...my daughter does this!!!! drives me nuts!!
dm24angel
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I have BAD TMJ because of grinding at Night. It bugs DH so much he yells at me sometimes, he says he can hear me in the other room! I cant sleep with the guard, feels like its chocking me, like I cant breath. They do sell a good one at like CVS,Rite-Aid. Its like $30 and similiar to the ones a Dentist can mold for you. ITs a cheaper alternative. The dentist ones cost $200-$400 and arent typically covered by insurance.
The clicking sounds like TMJ, treatment which is also not usually covered by insurance without a fight. The dental dept says its medical, the medical dept. says it dental.
MrsERod
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
stupid question here, but whats TMJ?
dm24angel
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Posted by MrsERod
stupid question here, but whats TMJ?
Its a disorder...My attempt at spelling it out is Temporal Mandicular Joint ( disorder...the clicking is because the joint in your jaw is rubbing or out of place from grinding your teeth you knock it out of its place. I have had it for YEARS.
marymoon
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
I don't know what TMJ stands for, but it's when your jaw locks up and the symptoms are grinding teeth at night and jaw cracking when you open and close, it cna also cause severe headaches. Me, Fh and my mom have all been helped a LOT by seeing the chiropractor.. No crappy mouthguards either. My chriopractor uses the activator method, which I think works especially well for TMJ. I 100% recommend it
MrsERod
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
Posted by marymoon
I don't know what TMJ stands for, but it's when your jaw locks up and the symptoms are grinding teeth at night and jaw cracking when you open and close, it cna also cause severe headaches. Me, Fh and my mom have all been helped a LOT by seeing the chiropractor.. No crappy mouthguards either. My chriopractor uses the activator method, which I think works especially well for TMJ. I 100% recommend it
ok...another question..whats the activator method??
(i ask because my daughter grinds her teeth in her sleep...AND my jaw pops when I open and close..not sure if I grind my teeth too though... )
TracyInQueens
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
Posted by marymoon
I don't know what TMJ stands for, but it's when your jaw locks up and the symptoms are grinding teeth at night and jaw cracking when you open and close, it cna also cause severe headaches. Me, Fh and my mom have all been helped a LOT by seeing the chiropractor.. No crappy mouthguards either. My chriopractor uses the activator method, which I think works especially well for TMJ. I 100% recommend it
I will have to look into this! Thanks so much.
Christina- my understanding is that teeth grinding is more stress related, at least in adults. I have been really stressed lately so I am not surprised. But I have always had the jaw-popping thing. I didn't realize it might be TMJ till I was eating lunch with a friend who has it and she noted that you could hear both of us while we were chewing (and popping).
TMJ seems more like something you just have.
February05
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
i do the same thing (i have TMJ). its been so much better now that the wedding planning is over (that totally took a toll on my teeth). Seriously, i've cracked so many of my molars i grind, and sometimes my jaw will lock so tight and then SPASM soooo hard that it slams my teeth together and my back teeth get affected by it. I'd definately check to see if you have TMJ (it sounds like you might ). Also, warm compresses, and massages help relax the muscles a little bit.... have you been under alot of stress lately???? (thats when mine is at its absolute worst)
i have the nightguard, and i used to wear it alot... its very thin, so i never felt like i was choking or anything, But in the morning, it would take like an hour for my jaw to feel 'right' again... so i havent worn it in a while
ETS: some things also make it worse- like chewing gum, or anything else that makes your jaw work harder (chewing hard steak, etc...) Maybe try to avoid those things for a while
marymoon
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
Activator method is a type of chiropracticin whiche the chirporactor uses a little took called an activator instead of manual manipulation. it allows him/her to be very precise and is really painless. I'm sure a regualr chiropractor cna help, but with the activator they have a specific gentel one to use on the face and it gets right into that jaw space and fixes it right up. They don't crack your whole jaw (ew) like a manual chiropractor would. There's no cracking at all. You feel a quick tap and that's it.
I can't really find a good link!
Sorry!
MrsERod
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
mary...does that hurt? I'm afraid to go find out because someone told me I might need surgery to correct it...
marymoon
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My chiropractor is wonderful. He's in Howard Beach. I also know another great chiropractor in Commack. Fm me for details.
exotica776
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
i work for an oral surgeon and we see a TON of tmj cases. sometimes it is muscular and he prescribes a muscle relaxer. the pt takes it at night, every night, then every other etc. until the 'habit' is broken. you might want to look into that as well!
shellnroc
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
I have TMJ. I wear a guard to bed that a specialist made for me. I had it soooo bad at one point that I had to get 2 needles in my jaw to align it so I could eat. Ughhh...I don't want to remember that. Anyway, the guard I got is a life saver. Thank god for that specialist. I have been grinding my teeth since I could remember. I never broke any teeth. Thank god. I don't know I'm doing it I'm just always told. Lot's of people have clicking in their jaws and it doesn't necessarily mean you have TMJ. But after time it can turn into that or then again it might not. Stress definitely has alot to do with it. Before getting an over the counter guard I would ask a dentist. I bought an OTC guard and it made my jaw worse. If you need any help let me know. I know alot about it. I did alot of research. Good Luck!
marymoon
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
Chiro doenst hurt at ALL. it feels like someone flicking the tip of their finger into your arm. it's that quick, and there are really no risk involved because it's so mild and they just fix what's out of place. And my chiropractor would never suggest surgery unless you really needed it. he's a natural methods kind of guy. my mom's TMJ was really severe and chiro really fixed it right up. I think it's worth a shot.
Also, don't evem be afraid to go to a doc because they might siggest surgery. Most doctors really only suggest it as a last resort. And even if they suggest it, you don't have to get it, so you really have nothing to lose. Anyway, I can't suggest chiropractic enough
christy
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
yes I do it, I have tried everything! I have no control over it!
kdelace
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my ex husband used to do that... i actually had to wake him up to stop because it was so loud and I know it couldnt be good for his teeth. he finally wore a mouth guard but he didnt like it...
2003fallwedding
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I clench my teeth at night (I probably grind and don't know it) my jaw pops sometimes...I have never been diagnosed with TMJ but I probably have it...
marymoon
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I just went to the chiro ptoady and within 10 seconds my pain and cracking were GONE. I also got a few brochures about the activator method from my doc if anyone wants I can mai therem or go to www.activator.com
jessnyc711
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Re: Anyone grind their teeth at night?
I know I use to grind my teeth a lot when I was younger. I don't think I do it anymore as much, but it use to be very bad and loud from what my family would say. I do think it had to do with stress because my family was very dysfuntional. And now that I no longer deal with them, I don't grind my teeth. But I did speak to my dentist about it because as a result my jaw pops out and clicks. It's horrible because when I have to take a big bite out of a large sandwich, my jaw sometimes pops out and then is locked open and I can't close it unless I practically smack my jaw back into place. What a sight, so annoying, I also think that the fact that I need braces doesn't help my jaw alignment.
