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12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi everyone,

Merry Christmas!

Sunflower, I hope you have been feeling better this past week.

LovingHeart & Hugs, thanks for sharing your advice and re-posting information on 'bruxism' on this thread!

Vincenza, Health Educator

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

Sp,

I continue to have grinding, and also had a mouthguard, which cuts down the wearing my teeth. I've had it for several years.

Dr. F., the resident expert on this site, commented in June 2010 in the archive(Ask the Expert) on this condition, and I've copied and pasted it for your reference. Notice that 8-10% of people have it, so we're not alone. I think that it's subsided, and this may be due to reducing my stress overall. If 9% of the members have this condition, maybe we can continue to support each other here.

Subject: Bruxism and CBT

Can you describe Bruxism, and whether CBT can cure it?

Bruxism is a medical term used to describe the habit of the grinding and clenching of the teeth. Bruxism can occur either during sleep or while awake. The majority of people will grind and/or clench their teeth once in a while and it does not usually harmful. However, when people grind and/or clench their teeth on a regular basis it can damage the teeth and cause headaches, earaches and jaw pain. Most experts say that perhaps 8-10% of the population will experience this problem at some point in their lives. Most experts agree that stress and anxiety are often an underlying cause of bruxism. Although not a “cure” for bruxism, employing CBT techniques to reduce stress and your overall level of anxiety can definitely help. Another psychological technique that can be helpful for people who experience bruxism while awake is called “habit reversal.” The basic ideas behind habit reversal techniques is that you monitor your symptoms and then practice substituting different behavior, for example, relaxing your jaw when you notice that you are clenching your teeth. In the meantime, if you have nocturnal bruxism, dentists recommend that you get a fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth at night.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1

Hi there :) Just wanted to try and give you a little advice, that might help your grinding at night. I have been grinding for many years as well, and went to the orthodontist. He molded me a mouth guard for my mouth, and it seems to slightly take a little of the discomfort off of my jaw area and later migraines, due to its support. Walgreens also has the night guards, and they work as well. I have found that medications with caffeine, or any type of stimulant always makes my grinding worse...but I'm slowly learning to try and relax...:) I think we both need to take a deep breath... Actually, I found that when I took a hot bath the other night before bed, my jaws weren't as sore in the morning...which is most likely contributed to the bath relaxing me before bed time. I wish you the best of luck :)

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 250

I am not really sure that there is anything different lately other than my hormonal issues.

I am a little worried to ask for help as my doctor isn't that great. He has been my doctor since I was 2 which has good and bad points. I just hope he doesn't say something like "It will pass" or "You will get over it". I don't want him to dismiss me as he has done in the past.

I like the idea of writing down questions. I think I will do that. Thanks.

Thanks

SunflowerPainter

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi Sunflower painter,

I'm sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well lately. Has anything changed for you in the last little while? Even dietary changes can affect how we feel..

Wondering why you are worried to ask for help?

It's always very helpful to write down a list of questions to bring to your visit with your doctor -this way you won't forget to ask anything. Ask about your options. What medications if any your doctor would recommend, potential side effects, what to expect etc..

Vincenza, Health Educator

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 250

I am not sure what it is but I have been feeling really down lately. It started about a month ago. I feel hopeless, I am irritable, I don't enjoy doing the things I used to like, I struggle to sleep. I feel sickly too.

I have decided to go to my doctor and ask for something that will help. I haven't been on any medication for this since I was about 19 years old! I have struggled along, probably not doing all that well. I have realized that I probably need to take something because my depression/anxiety/panic is starting to run over and affect others, especially my husband.

I do currently take amitryptaline at night to manage my jaw clenching which helps with my chronic migraines, but lately I am clenching and grinding so much that nothing is helping. When my doctor upped that medication I couldn't sleep as I was wired.

So now I am worried about how to ask for help, what kind of medication I am supposed to take etc. I am also going through menopause at 35 so I am really struggling.

Any tips for talking to doctors?

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