To ask how on earth can I stop clenching my jaw when I'm asleep

[haw]

I'm sure my jaw clenches while I'm sleeping

I don't know how or why it happens but I woke a few times last night and caught my teeth kind of grinding together

How can I not do this when I'm asleep? I'm thinking some kind of mouth guard but can anyone recommend a certain one?

I got mine fitted by my dentist. Made a huge difference.

Yes a bite plate is what you need. Clenching causes a lot of damage to your teeth. And jaw.

We hold a lot of tension in our jaw. For now maybe you can try listening to a calming story or use a meditation app as you fall asleep.

See your Dentist about it and they'll sort you out with a guard, I think they're bespoke. Definitely worth doing though as teeth grinding causes so many problems.

I feel feel you op. I have do the same thing. I do it to the point I get headache from the muscle tightness in my jaw. Speak to the dentist but it may not help it didn't help me unfortunately. Mine tends to flare up when I'm stressed

I really feel for you *

sorry I can’t help but I have the same problem. I wake with a headache a lot and have cracked one tooth and hairline cracks in a few more. I tried a gum guard from the dentist but it made me gag. Hopefully someone with a more positive outcome will be along.

You will need it properly moulded otherwise there is a good chance you won't use it. So next stop dentist.

I've done this for years, have TJD and nothing I've tried has stopped me doing it.

Best solution for me has been a cheap DIY mouthguard from Amazon that you mould yourself using boiling water. I have previously paid £100+ to have one made by the dentist but bought the Amazon one in lockdown and found its actually better than the dentist one and only cost £12!

You can’t buy one, you have to have it made by the dentist.
You can get hard or soft. I wear a soft one every night because I clench.

This is my hesitation in going to the dentist. I can't afford to lose £100 if it doesn't work.

Might have a look at the cheap mould type ones on Amazon initially.

I think one of my teeth has already ground down a little.

Stress is the culprit for my night time teeth grinding and after nearly a lifetime of it I've never found a cure.

A bite guard from the dentist will help save your teeth from being worn down and broken. I'd recommend having the soft one.
I wish you well, op.

I lost a tooth from clenching as it cracked in half.
I wear a fixed splint that I had to get from a specialist. It’s hard and moulded to my teeth. It doesn’t stop me clenching- I don’t think anything will, but protects my other teeth.
I do stretches after bad nights that I found in you tube.

And sorry mine was £200 but I’ve had my current one about 2 years

I used to grind my teeth and had an expensive guard from my dentist, I hated wearing it though so really worked on my stress levels - I had acupuncture and hypnotherapy and dealt with some issues from the past and haven’t needed the guard since - this was around 10 years ago. Do you have any idea of the cause of your stress OP?

You can get a masseter Botox injection that permanently relaxes the TMJ at a private dentist.

I just got one from the dentist. It fits over the lower teeth so no gagging. It's lasted for years so far.

Acupuncture- have your jaw needled it's a revalation! Helps to relax it

I got a bite guard fitted from the dentist, I think you would need to get a proper fitte one as even then they are very big and sometimes made me gag when I first use it.
I only had to use it for about 6 months and I don't do it anymore, haven't for about a year.

Dentist for mouth guard. I gag terribly but have got used to mine.

I do the same OP, using a mouth guard has reduced the risk of damage and my jaw doesn't ache as much in a morning.

I used to do this - I was very stressed at the time. I worked on reducing my stress, exercised more and then also started taking a magnesium supplement before bed which helps your muscles relax.

I didn't even realise that I was stressed that's the thing, I feel ok!

This is the one I'm going to try

OP my husband got one through the dentist it was about 70 quid. So worth it! You're already spending £18 quid on that toxic rubbish - don't bother just go to the dentist. They absolutely do work but only if you have them made properly.

Like Linerforlife said, try magnesium. I know I need some when I start clenching my jaw.