Any experience of tooth grinding/clencing?

[mumface]

I have had this problem for about a year now, it starts with a toothache, that gets worse and the dentist can find no cause. Either a root canal performed, after which the pain gets magnified and I end up having the tooth removed or I skip the root canal as it feels pointless and just have the extraction. All is calm for a couple of weeks. Then it starts with another tooth, the same pattern, no decay, nothing showing on x-rays I'm sure my dentist thinks I'm crazy. The pain won't stop till the tooth is gone. And here I am again in agony, and distressed. Have had trips to maxi-facial at hospital ( one of my extractions resulted in a sinus perforation and I have surgery booked) and trips to the doctor who thinks I have facial neuralgia and has put me on Tegretol but I don't think this is the problem. I have had 5 teeth removed now and I am struggling to eat solid foods a little now. I am depressed about it. I don't seem to have any wear to my teeth that indicated grinding but I do sometimes wake up with my jaw tightly clamped shut. I have tried a few mouth guards but I cans still bite on them and it hurts my bad tooth. The one from the dentist is so tight it hurts and I end up pulling them out in my sleep only woke up with it in twice and it made my teeth hurt more. Can anyone identify with this problem and how I can make it stop? Please help it's ruining my life.

mumface have you had a look at the website of the BSOS? British society for occlusal studies, their members have a special interest in this sort of problem and there are some wonderful dentists out there who could help you. Where are you in the country?

Your plight sounds relatively common and although I don't have a particular interest in the area, many people who have TemporoMandibularJoint Dysfunction (TMJD) have teeth removed & ultiple root fillings before they are properly diagnosed. Have a look at the website & see if you can find someone to help.

I wear a guard at night as I clench. Mainly I am aware of it through the day and put my tongue behind my top teeth and try to relax my jaw
If I sleep without the mouth guard then I get pain in my jaw and wake up with my teeth rammed together. Mine was tight at first but loosened after wear, mainly it stops me from slamming my teeth together and breaking them
Could it be TMJ? Which is what I have in my jaw. Erm there was another type of mouth guard that was meant to be good, will have a google. Also believe you can have Botox in the muscles..

My Ds has TMJD - you have my sympathies...

Have you worn your mouthguard for a while? Ds still wears his every night after 6 months, and its still not corrected the problem. We are on the verge of botox injections.

What works for him is icing the jaw regularly and Volterol gel rubbed into it.

The more I know about TMJD, the more I realise that its caused by so many different factors, it can take a while to work out whats causing it and how to treat it.

What does your max fax consultant say? Can you get a second opinion? Ds found chiropractic treatments helpful and accupuncture less so - but others swear by it.

Keep trying, and Good Luck

I've been wearing the mouth guard for about a week now, I suppose it could be TMJ, but the pain is in the actual nerve of the tooth, my consultant has given me so many theories from sinus infection, mouth ulcer!? and now she says I need an old filling replacing.
The problem with the mouth guard is I can still bite down on them which hurts the sore tooth and hurts me more to wear it, therefore exacerbating the problem. I have tried wearing it for just over a week but have only kept it in fully for 2 nights.
I have another idea to keep my teeth apart, if I block my nose with nose plugs or medical tape. I will have to keep my mouth open to breathe and it will stop me clamping my teeth shut. Has anyone tried this? I had a nap today and bunged my nose with tissue, felt like I had a cold but I woke with my mouth wide open (but dry) Is this a crazy idea?

Is it a soft bite guard you have now?

yes, a soft bite fitted one from dentist which feels like my teeth are being badly squeezed and a sleepright one which has plates at the back to bite on, also a cheepy one from Amazon which is actually the comfiest as I have trimmed it right down to not touch the poorly tooth but it falls out and I think I clench more trying to keep it in my mouth.

Hi Mumface -- I have been having TMJ issues for about 3 years, and recently have been considering getting nose plugs to force me to breathe through my mouth. I saw that you tried and wanted to hear about your experience. Would you kindly share your thoughts on how that went for you (and if you tried anything else?)

Thanks!