How do I stop or reduce clenching my teeth/jaw

[juneonthemoon]

Anyone managed it?

Botox.

Or a mouthguard at night to at least mitigate the impact.

Ultimately, it’s stress.

My husband wears a mouthguard at night, it was one to sleep in from the dentist not a sports one.

A dentist can make you a little device that fits on your top front teeth for when you sleep. If you try to bite down it won't allow your back teeth to come together and you won't be able to clench

Magnesium supplement before bed.

A bite raising appliance from your dentist.

I have the same issue OP: I got a month guard from the dentist for £250 but I find it so uncomfortable that I haven’t been wearing it recently. I have found massage and yoga help a bit, and have also been trying magnesium. I have heard botox can help but it’s pricey and only lasts 3 months at a time. It’s tricky! I keep searching for a solution as my bottom molars are getting really ground down.

An Invisalign mouth guard. Very thin and durable. Plus de stressing.

I did it to such an extent I had to have jaw surgery!

I did it to such an extent I had to have jaw surgery! oh no!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have tried a mouthguard in the past many years ago but didn't like the feeling of it. But may need to try again with that and I'll try magnesium tablets. Maybe yoga. A massage would be lovely. True I am stressed as well.

Yeah- I clenched my jaw so hard that I literally crushed one of my molars to death. Sounds dramatic but the continual pressure ended up killing the nerve. Had to have root canal and crown.

I had Invisalign followed by a retainer and it's stopped me doing it.

I think you can get special ear plugs moulded to your ear canals to stop you doing it.

You really need to wear the mouthguard. I’ve had a few chunky ones in the past but the Invisalign ones are really thin and not too arduous to wear. Good luck.

I wear a gumshield from dentist. It is quite comfortable.

My current mouth guard (silicone) is a lot more comfortable than the one I had from the dentist as a teenager ( hard plastic and metal) so I'd recommend speaking to your dentist. Won't stop jaw clenching but reduces the wear on your teeth.

I had a terrible bout of this during a stressful period- was grinding at night but often found myself unconsciously clenching in the day too. This series of videos really helped, used to do them before bed and sometimes in the day if I felt right

If it's for when you sleep, my dentist sorted me a gum shield that stopped me doing it

I second the jaw exercises, riotlady. Seems so unlikely but reading and following this worked for me. www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/12128Ptmj.pdf

Thanks all

riotlady I did that and it really helped (not relevant but the doctor is rather good looking too)

Shirtyllama that exercise is really relaxing!

Be careful with those exercises they strained my joint.