Grinding Teeth/Bruxism

[Bloke]

I suffer from bruxism quite badly, I have a mouthguard for my lower teeth, which I break within a few months at a cost of £45 a go from the dentist, but which doesn't stop the problem, just tries to reduce the damage being done to my teeth.

Has anyone suffered and tried anything else which works? I thought of maybe hypnotherapy although I'm a bit sceptical, anyone tried it?

Any thoughts or comments would be welcome as having a painful jaw all day and the increasing possibility of needing expensive dental work to repair my teeth in the future is getting me down a bit.

Thanks,

Paul.

[Toothsmith]

Try and get a referal to an occlusion specialist who should be able to make a better bite guard.

Bite guards are the most effective way to help.

[td]

Hi,

I suffered from bruxism and went to see a hypnotherapist to cure it - it worked and I was so taken with it I trained as a hypnotherapist!

You could try a little at home on your own - think "as soon as my teeth tough in order to grind/clench I will relax my jaw muscles" etc - repeat this a lot particularly before bed and maybe get a relaxation tape to listen to before sleep.

Also look at the things you do to make it worse - ie resting your chin on your hand when working/concentrating. I actually sleep with my hand under my chin which would make it worse.

Also when I had to have guards I went to a dental training hospital and got them for free.

HTH

td

[babybe11]

hi there i suffered from bruxism for quite a few years and after having a biteguard and losing a few teeth my dentist referred me to a cognative behaviour therapist. 12 sessions with him and i was cured. all it took was getting to the bottom of my anxiaties and some relaxation techniques. hope this helps

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Our study found a new aspect of the patients with masticatory muscle disorder and sleep bruxism: they are not only intraaggressive, but are also unable to be extra-punitive and extra-aggressive. Consequently, they are unable to demonstrate adequate self-assertiveness in stressful situations. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16933460&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum)
So it looks like the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy needs to focus on ways to prevent you turning your frustrations in on yourself and hopefully become more self-assertive under stress.

[Toothsmith]

That is very interesting Ted.

I was about to post that in my experience (subjective, I know) it was a wide varyation of characters that seem to suffer from this, and not just introverts.

Then I thought!

I am often amazed at the number of teachers I have to make bite guards & splints for. Teachers with all sorts of different personalities.

But then - teachers often CAN'T really take out their frustrations on the cause of the frustrations (the kids) and have to turn a lot of it inwards - whatever their real personality.

So I suppose that study is really quite accurate!

[kay74]

That is very interesting Ted.

I was about to post that in my experience (subjective, I know) it was a wide varyation of characters that seem to suffer from this, and not just introverts.

Then I thought!

I am often amazed at the number of teachers I have to make bite guards & splints for. Teachers with all sorts of different personalities.

But then - teachers often CAN'T really take out their frustrations on the cause of the frustrations (the kids) and have to turn a lot of it inwards - whatever their real personality.

So I suppose that study is really quite accurate!

Oh my goodness. I am a head teacher and mnay of my teacher friends suffer from this too. I can chomp through those mouthguards in a week.
One article I read even suggested going to sleep with your tongue sticking out but I have the terror that I'll bite it off in the middle of the night too!
Have been hypnotised for other things and have found it to be really effectice so will look at it for tooth grinding now too. Thanks for your help guys.
K