Help! Bruxism is ruining my life!

[SweetSleep]

Since having a baby nearly 20m ago I have developed bruxism. It's gradually got worse. Baby was a horrendous sleeper so I didn't really notice until about 6m ago that I have a problem with clenching. It's gotten worse over the last 6m.

I wake up after 8 hours feeling like I haven't slept. Like I haven't had any deep sleep. I don't wake up rested and refreshed like I used to and it's getting me really down as I'm always feeling tired and I've forgotten what it actually is like to have good sleep.

I have a mouth guard which protects my teeth but it doesn't seem to stop the actuals clenching. I also push my tongue against my top teeth. I wake up with a funny throat and my neck and shoulders are becoming sore. I wake up with a headache.

I have also noticed that there are moments during the day where im.clenching too.

At first I thought it was the stress of having a baby but now that I've just started work I feel it's gotten worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do. Feeling really down about it. I dread going to sleep.

As you’ve found, a traditional guard stops the mechanical damage to the teeth but not the headaches, jaw pain and clenching/grinding.

I wear an NTI guard.
It fits over the front four teeth and stops the physical damage. It also stops you from grinding as the teeth can’t rub together and your brain won’t allow you to bite down using your front teeth.

Not all dentists fit these.

I’ve also had Botox to decrease the size of my masseter muscle (the one that joins the top and bottom jaw) and in the muscles around the hair line (tension headaches - but all related to the clenching).

I also take beta blockers for migraine. I found this helped with the unconscious day time grinding/clenching. This option would be via your GP rather than dentist. Although I found my dentist to be more knowledgable about TMJ than my GP.

I've finally stopped this after decades of grinding. I quit all alcohol 18 months ago.

Sorry to jump on this thread but I'm also really struggling with this. I don't think I grind my teeth as much as I used to, but my jaws are constantly clenched shut. So I have no respite during the day either. Is there anything I can wear or do that will prevent this during the day?

I'm wondering if hypnotherapy could help? I have no personal experience but this is a good site for hypnotherapy downloads. www.hypnosisdownloads.com/health-issues/teeth-grinding

Am also struggling with this problem, have a mouth guard but still headaches and jaw discomfort. Anybody tried massage or acupuncture?

My clenching and grinding is so bad I recently strained my main jaw muscle and was on soup and mash for 6 weeks, my mouth guard helps with damage but I wish I could stop altogether.

I developed it post-baby too. I get Botox in my masseters privately 2-3 times a year and it completely reverses it. Worth every penny as I get terrible headaches and jaw pain otherwise. I believe the NHS will do it but you probably have to jump through a lot of hoops first.

I have a night guard (having already cracked a molar which ended up being removed, hairline cracks in another, and chips across my front teeth). I also have tinnitus which appears to be related as not due to hearing loss.

Over time (12+ months) the guard seems to have helped and I do it less at night but when stressed it gets worse again.

Colleague (who is a physio) said that they had the same but it stopped as they got older (by mid 40's in their case). Hoping it will be the same for me.

As well as the mouth guard, I actually had to train myself and practice during the day as even when awake my jaw was always clenched and I was always pressing my teeth together. I know it sounds bizarre but I constantly said to myself when awake let your mouth hang open in a relaxed position. Over and over again. Spent a lot of time with the tip of my tongue touching the roof of my mouth too as that encourages you to let your mouth hang open. Sort of managed to train myself not to as weird as it sounds

I'm another who has masseter Botox, which is lifechanging, and has the added bonus of slimming the face.

It's expensive at £300 every four or so months, but worth it.

I am a TMJ sufferer. Hypno helps, the day clenching comes and goes now and it's defo stress related. I used to put my Hypno on at night and fall asleep to it and put it on in the back ground during the day. You don't really need to actively listen as it does go in.

Hypnotherapy worked for me, as it’s related to anxiety, which can result in automatic patterns of tensing. You will get better results seeing someone one to one, so the therapy can be tailored to you, than with a download.

I’ve suffered from Bruxism since I was about 13 (just after my mum died) and my teeth are so badly damaged by it.

I’ve had Botox but it did nothing for me. I also wear a mouth guard but regularly need a new one as I go through it. It protects my teeth but doesn’t help with the neck, head, shoulder and back pain I experience.

I have had a few diazepam prescribed but that didn’t do much.

Hypnotherapy was the best thing I found but since returning to work full time I don’t have the time to see my therapist. Probably need to find someone else but my old one was a former GP so had the medical not just the ‘woo’ background.

Currently I take amytriptaline (sp?) 10mg before going to bed. This does help the pain a bit but I think I need to increase my dose. Doctor says it is ok to do this.

I have also seen a chiropractor and that helped but it was so expensive and didn’t alter the underlying problem.

I think I have anxiety (not diagnosed but I am a worrier) and this is probably why the hypnotherapy worked.

OP, it’s worth getting a referral to the hospital where they may give you Botox. I’d look into hypnotherapy too and see if your gp will prescribe the amytriptaline. It’s an Old School antidepressant which apparently works well for odd pain.

Good luck OP finding a solution for this.

Sorry to bump ab old thread but I have the same issue with clenching although mines actually started during pregnancy (last year), then bizarrely went away for four weeks post partum. It then returned and have since lost a bottom molar due to clenching. I've noticed recently that my mouth suddenly 'snaps' shut just as I'm drifting off too. Tongue is scalloped and have ridges on the inside of my cheeks also. Have been on a soft/liquid diet for nearly 6 months now and so fed up of it all. My pain primarily presents as toothache. I've recently been made a michigan splint to wear but haven't had a chance to get it fitted yet, and to be entirely honest I'm afraid it will somehow make things worse. Just wondering has anyone on this thread found relief and if so what did you do?

@HermionePotter123 im having the same issues! Im soo fed up!!! Mine has started whilst pregnant! Im soo done with it! Its getting me sooo low! Im also meant to be getting a michigan done. Has yours been fitted yet? How are things ? X

Hey @Starrr123, sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. Are you still pregnant or post partum? Mines started when I was around 20 weeks. I had my upper wisdom teeth removed as they were breaking but the pain didn't go away and kept moving from tooth to tooth so thats when they diagnosed me with TMJD. Im not sure if the TMJD was caused by the teeth coming out or if it was me clenching that broke them but basically it hasn't went away since (except for about a month post partum then came back). Do you have it on one side or both? It really is such a rubbish thing to have. I was on a liquid diet for the second half of my pregnancy (and still on a very soft/liquid diet). In the end I was actually induced as it was causing me so much misery and I couldn't take medication due to the pregnancy. Im still awaiting a michigan splint, went recently to get it fitted but it didn't sit right so have to go back. My dentist has made me an nti device to try out in the meantime to stop me clenching at night. It's like a mini splint that just covers the front upper teeth. Basically it stops the molars from meeting when the clenching reflex kicks in. I've worn it for nearly 2 weeks now. Have noticed less pain in the morning but in the afternoon/evening I'm still quite sore. Pm me if you want anymore info or just to vent as I know it can feel like a really lonely thing to have x

@HermionePotter123 thankyou for replying!
So im 36 weeks pregnant!!! Im in alot of pain! I was thinking is it my teeth , sinuses or something worse :( ive had. Ahead mri in December! All clear. I have an nti made which i keep forgetting to use! My face keeps feeling tight!! Had my teeth shaved down too! I may ask my midiwfe on sunday i i can be induced due to this :( im so fed up! Ive been super tensed since the started! Its been awful but got worse as pregnancy has been going on! Once i hve the baby i can have the botox done. Also did you ask to be induced ?
My face has been feelig. Slightly numbish which was worrying me and making me worse xx

You're very welcome. Congratulations on your pregnancy by the way! I really do feel for you as I was so miserable with it. I couldn't enjoy the pregnancy at all because of it. Do you get toothache with it? And does it hurt to chew? That's reassuring the mri was clear anyway. I'm due to get an nri also. And I also had my teeth shaved down! Yes I was under the care of the consultant (for a different issue) and I asked her. She wouldn't let me be induced until 39 weeks though. My face sometimes feels numb too (as well as my gums occasionally). I don't know what causes it but try not to panic, although I know that's easier said than done x

Thankyou!!! I do feel it! I pretend im enjoying it but i feel like crap!!!
When did you have your baby?
Oo you did have them shaved too?
Well im sure your MRI will also come back clear! Yes mine was my right top teeth hurting! And my dentist said my teeth are ok! I will message you with questions etx if you dont mind! As i dont really have anyone that understands! Well hopefully the baby comes at 38-39 weeks i keep praying!!!
Im now over 36 weeks so hopefulyl wont be much longer (i am praying ) . I think this is all down to anxiety! When are you due for your mri? Xx

I had DD last September. Yeah I had my molars and a couple of molars shaved down. Didn't find it helped at all, and was even sorer for about 2 weeks afterwards. Are you a clencher or grinder? I'm hoping to get the mri in the next couple of weeks. What area did you have scanned? Ah I hope the baby comes a bit earlier for you. Yes feel free to message about anything. I really do understand how rubbish it is and it does help a lot being able to speak to others in the same boat x

Sorry @starrr123 that meant to say molars and a couple of pre molars shaved down. X

@HermionePotter123 oo gosh :( the symptoms give me more anxiety and stress and i get worse! I seem to clench!! Maybe a tiny bit of grinding. What about you?
I have a head mri in December and then a cervical spine mri in march. All clear. My gp told me yesterday that i need to just wait and see till ive had the baby.
My dentist will also do the botox which may help! Does it cause you to have like tension headaches ? Xx

I hope your mri comes! What whll they be scanning on you? X

@HermionePotter123

Hey @Starrr123, I've sent you a pm x