Clenching your Jaw

ravenray

So for the first time in my life on Sunday I clenched my jaw.  I clenched it so hard I have been in pain for days.  And then I did it in my sleep on Wednesday.  One side of my mouth hurts.  It hurts to open it big it hurts to chew food.  So much unpleasantness,  and when I get stressed I start doing it again.  Poo. I saw my dentist a few days after it happened and he recommended getting a mouth guard for night but I do it during the day.  Plus how does it help you not hurt? Does anyone know anything about this? Any tricks to get me to stop.  He said it is due to stress, which I certainly have plenty of.  I just can't figure out why it is now that it is happening!

tdwpg1984

Usually the mouth guards are soft, so it puts some cushion between your top and bottom teeth so there's less pressure when you do clench your jaw, at least that's my understanding of how they work.

I had a mouthguard when I was younger because I bite my lips in my sleep fairly often. Like to the point where they're bleeding. It didn't work though, because I didn't keep my mouth closed enough, or I would take it out in my sleep or something. One night I woke up and it was down my pj pants and stuck to my bum!

ravenray

See I don't think I grind my teeth (really I have never done this before) But my gums are inflamed over there and they do hurt.  The problem is, the mouth guard is really expensive for something that might go away.

 

EDIT: Tw- that is too funny! Lol

IrishDreamer

Ray, if you don't want to go with the specially molded one - go to the grocery store and buy one - I clench my teeth when I sleep, and during the day.

I bought one that I could mold myself at the grocery store and wear it at night - cost me like $20. I have to make a conscious effort to not do it during the day.

leia1979

I think it's just stress. I also hold a lot of tension in my jaw, but I don't grind my teeth or anything like that. I don't have a lot of solutions other than to try to consciously relax.

ravenray

Buggle- Thanks.  Sadly eating soft foods isn't always an option. I just try not to eat on that side of my mouth. When you said don't rest on your chin I was like oops.  I had just been doing that. lol

I did just take 3 ibuprofen; it was hurting way to much  

I don't know how to let it rest!!  When I close my mouth it tightens automatically now. And when I am studying or doing something I have to concentrate on it does it then too! Bah!

I fully admit I am whinnying now but I am really grateful for the advice.

Ry- does it help with the pain at all? I would be up for $20.

loves2shop4shoes

I started grinding my teeth at night in law school.  It's not fun. 

doubleSS07

Ray I clench, especially in my sleep, when I am really stressed.  I have a night guard that I pop in as soon as I notice my jaw/molars getting sore.  I've heard the ones from the store work just fine and it's really just a soft molded plastic that keeps you from putting all that pressure on the teeth.  The soreness should go away in a few days...mine usually takes about a week depending on how much I was clenching.

Do you do anything usually to help relieve stress like exercise or massage?  I know when I'm streesing out on something it helps relax me to go for a hard run or take a bottle of wine in to a bubble bath with a good book for an hour!

swhite2012

It's most likely stress, like eveyone else has said. I find that I occasionally clench my jaw at night during stressful times. My jaw hurts during the day for a little while, but then it eventually goes away. Try not to chew gum if you are. That tends to aggrivate it with me, I chew a lot of gum.

ravenray

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_clenching-your-jaw?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a8db1b30-a6a5-4d1c-990e-595079cb9198Post:f97382b4-b586-4d86-8cdb-e60fd7b9f8c0">Re: Clenching your Jaw</a>:
[QUOTE]Ray I clench, especially in my sleep, when I am really stressed.  I have a night guard that I pop in as soon as I notice my jaw/molars getting sore.  I've heard the ones from the store work just fine and it's really just a soft molded plastic that keeps you from putting all that pressure on the teeth.  The soreness should go away in a few days...mine usually takes about a week depending on how much I was clenching. Do you do anything usually to help relieve stress like exercise or massage? <strong> I know when I'm streesing out on something it helps relax me to go for a hard run or take a bottle of wine in to a bubble bath with a good book for an hour!</strong>
Posted by doubleSS07[/QUOTE]
This sounds wonderful.  I just feel like I can't stop right now or nothing will get done.  I will try to get some relaxing in this weekend!  So we shall see! 

Thanks ladies.  I really hope it will go away.  If not I will look into buying a mouth thingy whilst I sleep :)

Elle1036

I have issues with clenching, too, Ray.  A mouth guard will help protect your teeth, but it doesn't really do anything for the pain and soreness that come with clenching.

I find that excess caffeine, stress, lack of exercise, hunger, and lack of good sleep are all major contributing factors.  So when it gets bad, I focus on those things.  Drinking water instead of the Diet Coke I usually suck down, going for a run, going to bed early, etc...  those all help.

Also, Buggle's tip about flattening your tongue out between your teeth is a good one.  It helps me a lot.

jaycee7389

When I'm really stressed out that is exactly what happens to me. I catch myself doing it and literally have to force myself to stop. It actually gets so bad sometimes that I want a mouth guard to wear during the day when I'm sitting on the couch cause I can't get myself to chill.

I'd take the dentist's advice and do whatever possible to keep yourself de-stressed.