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Teeth-grinding / ASD / SRIs

6 replies

ChampagneTastes · 24/06/2021 10:17

Please don't tell me to go to my GP. I probably will eventually but not right now.

I have been on ADs for a couple of years for a number of reasons. It has become apparent in the last year that I am autistic (not diagnosed yet but there is little doubt about it) and this may account for some of my difficulties.

I went to the dentist recently with tooth pain and it appears that I have been clenching my jaw so hard that I have cracked two teeth. Apparently this is a side effect of all SRIs so changing my medication will not help.

I have stopped taking my meds for the last couple of weeks and am starting to feel overwhelmed again - would quite like to curl up in a dark corner and not come out. I seem to still be occasionally clenching my teeth but it is more obviously related to when I am stressed or tense rather than simply all the time.

What do I do? I can't exercise at the moment which is another thing that would help. I just want to eat and sleep and neither of those things are helping. I am contemplating going back on my ADs but I'm so scared I'm going to lose all my teeth if I do.

I have taken up far too much of my GPs time in recent months. I would like to resolve this myself - I am conscious that there are far bigger problems in the world than mine.

OP posts:
LadyLolaRuben · 24/06/2021 10:23

Hi OP, I frequently clench my teeth in my sleep. It was at its worst during my time in education during exams and deadlines. I went to my dentist and they fitted me with a gum shield to wear at night. It was fairly comfortable and its spongynes meant biting was much softer on my teeth and they were protected. Teeth clenching is really common and lots of people wear shelds. Apparently many lorry drivers wear them due to the stress of meeting deadlines in their jobs. Im sure this will solve your problem

ChampagneTastes · 24/06/2021 10:25

Thank you - it's not so much at night but during the day. I have bought a shield but I found it really odd. I may try it again. Thank you.

OP posts:
PawsQueen · 24/06/2021 10:33

I have clenched/ground my teeth since I was about 12 Blush and wear a dentist fitted mouthguard at night
It seems to help during the day too (obvs I don't wear it during the day!)
If I ever get v v stressed and start clenching when I'm watching TV I either keep correcting myself or put the mouthguard in for a bit
Am on citalopram but it started way before then

Sunny4876 · 24/06/2021 10:35

I clench/grind my teeth in my sleep anyway but was clenching my teeth badly in the days on sertraline.

Sunny4876 · 24/06/2021 10:37

Posted to soon,
I'm on duloxetine now and don't believe I'm doing it at all anymore.

ChampagneTastes · 24/06/2021 10:54

Oh ok, this is reassuring - my dentist made me feel like I was really odd to be doing this! I was on fluxotine (prozac). I might start up again - this week has been horrible. I will go and try the mouthguard for a bit.

OP posts:
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