Hey all,
My mom has Bruxism and it’s rehabilitating. Shes in pain every day. She saw a specialist who said they can help with a mouth guard and braces and in the end would cost over 15k (not covered by benefits or Ohip)
Are there any other way to help her not clench her teeth so hard?
She’s 59, 5’5”, 150lb, no existing health conditions other than asthma,
I had a round of botox over two months ago. For about a month, it seemed as if I had stopped clenching in my sleep, I hardly ever woke up anymore with my teeth together. As we speak, I feel like it's losing effect. I wake up clenching again, though the clenching force still seems pretty limited.
I feel powerless. I wake up, tell myself to relax my jaw, start falling asleep again and immediately I feel the clenching increase.
I tried mouth guard and it made things worse. I've had PT for over a year. It helps a bit with the pain but doesn't stop me from clenching. I don't know what else to try. I'm considering a biofeedback device, but it is very pricy. Is there anything else?
Hi TMJ lovers,
Before we get to the X-Ray, here’s some backstory.
I’ve been dealing with TMJ problems since I was 16. Back then my symptoms weren’t that severe. I had small inflammation near my jaw, specifically under my ear.
By 17, it started to become painful near my ear (the TMJ joint). It became very uncomfortable but bearable. During the summer of being 17, I went ti my home country and decided to get this problem checked out. I went to an Orthodontist where he recommended to get a mouth guard because I had been clenching in my sleep and during the say subconsciously.
So I got the mouth guard. It was plastic and aligned with my teeth, kind of like a retainer but thicker, designed to reduce clenching by making it uncomfortable and awkward. I was told to wear it 24/7 for 6 months, but could ofc take it off during eating or brushing teeth. Then I questioned him and asked if my teeth would get used to this guard and he strongly said, along the lines of, “no, your mind doesn’t like foreign object in your mouth so it will stop the clenching”
Well long story short, 4ish months in and i started clenching on the mouth guard 🤦♂️. I know this because i still wake up with a sore TMJ and my masseters feeling overworked.
Eventually I lost the mouth guard (I put it in my pocket before entering a bus and after I got out I realised that I lost it cause it wasn’t in my pocket). Tbh I don’t mind because it really wasn’t making a huge difference to my pain as promised by the orthodontist.
So fast forward to today, I am 18 and I still have the same problems. What’s new is that I started having these irritating spasms in my right ear daily and occasionally. Is it connected to my TMJ problem?
There isn’t necessarily any pain but it is very uncomfortable. There isn’t any noticeable popping sounds from a third person hearing but when I put my finger in my ear while opening and closing my jaw, there is an obvious cracking and popping sound, with severe movement. When my jaw is relaxed and my mouth closed, the back of the inside of my right ear (the bad side) is more prominent than my left (like the bone you feel when you put your finger in your ear to the end)
Well that was a bit of the backstory, now you can have a look at the X-Ray I attached. If there is anyone that can read it, what does it show? Is there hope for me 🥲? What can or should I do?
I do have an MRI that was taken alongside the X-Ray. If anyone needs it for a deeper analysis, you can dm me. Thanks
29 year old male, I don’t drink or smoke but I’m thinking of starting after this. I had a night guard made after I a root canal due to bruxism induced by my Vyvanse, and I have been taking REALLY good care of it, but I guess my nephew got into our bathroom and somehow got a hold of it and was playing and snapped it in nearly in half. No shards have broken off, and it still fits really well. Money is tight right now, and I would LOVE to know if I can continue wearing it and what I am risking by continuing to wear it and not replacing it. Thank you!
Hey guys!
I've had tension in my jaw for several years now linked to TMJ. For a long time I assumed it was bruxism (that I was grinding my teeth at night). But as time has gone on, I've started noticing a pattern: the tension only really shows up on days I work, and it's especially bad when I go into the office.
It seems way more tied to stress, posture, or just being at my desk/in the office environment than to anything happening while I sleep.
Has anyone else experienced this? Did you find anything that actually helped you? I'd love to hear what worked for you — whether it's exercises, habit changes, things you do during the workday, or something else entirely.
Thanks in advance!
I’ve started jutting my bottom jaw out when I’m sleeping and clenching. Has anyone had this?
I know he's a doctor so I shouldn't be asking for a second opinion from reddit but just wanted to know if anyone else has been told the same. I thought masseter botox was a way to paralyse the muscle to make it temporarily impossible to clench and grind your jaw.
My doctor said my TMJ and bruxism is likely caused by disc and bone issues/malocclusion. I asked if botox would stop me grinding and he said no because it's a bone issue not a muscle issue. This is the NHS in the UK so I hardly had any time to ask questions after that. Should I assume he meant it won't solve the underlying bone problem in the long-term? I was planning on getting botox soon and now I'm just confused. Anyone got an explanation for this?
EDIT: the main reason I want the Botox is because I can’t stand how I look with my swollen jaw muscle it’s really affecting my mental health tbh and I never take photos anymore. Even if the Botox does nothing other than shrinking that muscle a bit, that would be massively worth it for me. I know it won’t solve all the other TMJ problems
Long post but I hope it helps someone. A lot of people who have bruxism also have TMJ. I dealt with TMJ disorder for about 5 years — constant jaw clicking, tension headaches, ear fullness, and that dull ache radiating up into my temples. Tried a few things, gave up, tried again, repeated this about 5 times. Here's what actually worked for me.
The biggest shift for me was realizing TMJ dysfunction is almost never just a "jaw problem." It's a whole system involving jaw muscles, neck, posture, stress, sleep position. Once I stopped treating it like a single broken part and started looking at the full picture, things started improving.
This sounds stupidly simple but it took real practice. I had no idea how often I was clenching. Not just at night, but during work, driving, even watching TV. I started doing dedicated jaw relaxation sessions a couple times a day: tongue resting on the roof of my mouth, teeth slightly apart, lips closed, letting my jaw hang loosely.
I used a combo of the Headspace app (for general body scan meditations that helped me tune into tension I wasn't noticing) and an app called CalmJaw, which is specifically built for TMJ and guides you through targeted jaw relaxation exercises. CalmJaw especially was a game changer for building the actual habits since it’s specific to TMJ unlike Headspace. There are also a couple great sessions there for before bed.
This was also very helpful for my TMJ. Everything in our bodies is connected and along with holding tension in my jaw I would hold it in my back, shoulders, and neck. Rolling out my back multiple times a day along with ensuring my posture is proper and stretching my neck has helped tremendously.
For posture - arch back slightly, keep your shoulders down and back. For your mouth posture is also super important. Keep your lips together, tongue on the roof of your mouth and teeth slightly apart. Do this now if you just noticed you're not.
For stretches - the best for me have been stretching my neck from side to side and opening my chest by stretching my arm along a wall. Also hamstring stretches to help lower back pain.
Massage therapy — either yourself or through a specialist if you can
Heat before bed — warm compress on the jaw for 10 min relaxes the muscles going into sleep
Cutting out hard/chewy foods during flare-ups (chewing gum is the enemy)
Where I'm at now
About 90% better. The clicking is mostly gone, headaches are rare, and I actually wake up without that locked, achy feeling in my jaw. It took a few months of consistent effort but nothing I did was expensive or required a doctor (though I'd always recommend ruling out structural issues first).
Happy to answer questions if anyone's going through this — I know how miserable it can be.
Hi, I recently learned that I have been suffering from bruxism for years and now my teeth are flattened. I just got my custom nightguard today, but I wanted to know if there was anything else I should be made aware of to prevent further wear.
I brush with arm and hammer tooth paste morning and night along with flossing and mouth wash. I'm also aware that I have to be carful with eating certain foods like almond and hard candies. Are there any other notable foods I should avoid?
In addition, my dentist said that my teeth are structurally fine, but I may need to get veneers when I get older (currently 31). Maybe there are some other cosmetic solutions?
Overall, I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed in myself for not noticing this issue sooner in my life and I'm now trying my hardest to stop this problem so I dont lose any teeth or get another cavity.
Does anyine have any advice for moving forward with this issue? This has been keeping me up at night for weeks now.
Sorry for the lengthy post
I’m 31F and my dentist recently told me that I cracked all my molars. Already had a crown put in for one and TBD on the others…
I have an appointment to see an oral maxillary specialist in late August to do emface treatment and make me a new custom night-guard.
How have you managed with your tooth health? Crowns, root canals, extractions?
I’m still so devastated and upset by this since I do my best to take such good care of my teeth. Currently in quite a bit of pain as well.
TLDR: Just looking for support and experience with cracked teeth from bruxism.
*UPDATE*
I met with a bruxism and TMJ focused dentist; after some scans and tests she said I have a recessed jaw and “bad bite” (I have a slight overbite) that is likely the cause of my bruxism. This is the result of horrible orthodontics and dental work (4 extracted premolars) from when I was a teenager, which is exactly when my bruxism started.
She gave me a temporary mouthguard which I wore and I already feel 1000 times better. Will continue to work with her and a TMJ-focused physiotherapist.
Thank you everyone who shared your feedback! I don’t feel alone anymore and I’ve taken all your solutions into consideration!!!!
TLDR, I have been grinding my teeth since I can remember and I finally have the means to do something about it besides night guards. I went to the dentist and he recommended to straighten my teeth and fix my bite and that should help? It’s super expensive so I don’t want to pay for something that won’t work. Has anyone else had this recommended? If not, what should I try? I’m desperate to try to fix it.
For more context: I do take ADHD medication, I have tried various different night guards, I have also tried stretches and mouth exercises with no help.
I'm getting a custom nightguard because of my bruxism. Wear is starting to show on my teeth, so I really need it. I have muscular TMJ as well, which I'm doing PT for.
I have an anterior open bite and I'm really scared of the guard making it worse. I suffered from really bad speech impediments as a child and had to go to speech therapy until my second year of middle school. My bite getting worse and causing speech issues would really fuck up my already low self esteem. I just cannot afford adult braces.
Anyone with a similar bite who had good experiences?