Replied by Pat (San Diego, California USA) on 05/18/2009
What different people are using to END TEETH GRINDING...I Just Had To Add To This Subject!
This Is My First Time Here... Just Found It By Other Links... I Too Had Teeth Grinding For Years And Years... My Dentist Said My Front Teeth On The Bottom Were Worn Down So Bad Thats Why They Were Starting To Wiggle And Ready To Fall Out... I Sleep Alone So I Could Not Catch Myself Grinding Or Not But Every Morning I Had Face Pain And Headaches and Was Just Living With It And Taking Aspirins All The Time... Got So Bad That I Got On The Internet To Research And Read All About Stress TMJ Etc.... Don't Have Much $$$...fixed Income Etc... So I Went To Wal-mart To Find A Sleep Aid Device... All Too Exspensive For Me... Then The Light Bulb Went Off... Headed Over To The Sports Dept...Guy Showed Me Some Sports Mouth Pieces From My Child-hood Days... Football Mouth Guards,both Adult/Child Sizes For Just One Dollar Each.
Bought A Few To Try Out...But Also Bought _____ Mouth Piece Just Two Dollars In It's Own Case...Well,Now For This Long Story Short!...After A Week Of Trials Can Now Say The Boxer's Mouth Piece Worked So Well For Me..My Problem Is All Gone..Because The Boxer Guard Is Both Upper And Lower Protection...I Slept/Sleep Like A Baby EVERY Night
Now... Also My Teeth Don't Bother Me For The 1st Time In Years..They Tighten Back To Normal Plus I Guess I Don't Snore Any More Either There Is An Opening Between The Upper/Lower Part Of The Mouth Piece That Lets In MORE AIR To Breath.. Sleep Thru The Night Now!.. NO More Tossing And Turning All Night Wake Up Fully Rested Not Tired And Sore Mouthed!... All By The Grace-Of-God And Just TWO-BUCKS!... After A Few Nights OF Wearing It You Don't Even Know You Have It In... Look Forward To Bed Time Now ... HOPE This HELPS Someone Else Too!Replied by G (NY, NY) on 05/19/2009
The first "night guard" I bought was in the dental aisle for about $18.00. Then, like you, in the sporting goods department I found mouth guards for $.98. Exactly the same but without the case. I bought the youth size. Fits well for the bottom teeth...less bulky. You don't need top and bottom. The way it works sizes these to your mouth.
My problem was not with grinding, but that my teeth seem to like to move. I used to have perfectly positioned teeth. In my old age (alost 50), my bottom teeth seem to be shifting/over-lapping and now wearing down from my top teeth hitting them.
Hope this helps.Replied by Nancy (Ladysbridge, County Cork, Ireland) on 05/30/2009
In reply to KT from Irvine California: Go to the TMJ Section. There is a wealth of information there. I, too just started severe teeth grinding (or if I haven't just started, I'm just noticing it at night, with constant headaches, sore facial muscles and terrrible insomnia. I noticed that it started right after my last chiropractic session. I contacted my chiropractor and he said that I possibly need an adjustment of C1 so I am returning this week and will keep you posted.Replied by Lori (Spokane, WA) on 07/30/2009
I have had great success with phosphatidylserine 100 mg (PS). I was introduced to this by a doctor that recommended this supplement for lowering cortisol levels (stress hormone). Not only did I feel less agitated during the day, but I also stopped clenching my teeth at night. My neck and shoulder pain caused by clenching was also gone. I take one or two capsuls a day as needed, and the great part is that it starts working in about 15 minutes.
EC: More about this supplement here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylserine
Replied by Celise (Houston, Tx) on 09/22/2009
Are there any side effects from taking phosphatidylserine 100 mg and where can I find it? The teeth grinding has ruined my quality of sleep. I wake up exhausted and I can see that I'm chewing through my nightguard.Replied by Kathy (Dubois, Pa) on 09/22/2009
Tooth grinding/clenching can be caused by a Magnesium deficiency.Replied by Janice (Coloma, Mi) on 09/24/2009
I would like to know if anyone else has used Phosphatidylserine and if you had good results.Replied by Bryon (Escondido, Ca) on 12/08/2009
I have had bruxism for years, and use $1 mouth guards from Walmart or Kmart. I will try phosphatidyserine. Over the years it has gotten much less intense; my first several weeks did most of the damage and I didn't know what was happening.
Important note: I always rinse my mouth guard in the morning upon rising, and soak it in about 3/4 " of 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill germs. If you don't do that you may get a persistent sore throat. Also, in the beginning I often forgot to put the guard in my mouth at night, so a trick is to place it on your pillow sometime in the afternoon or evening so that you cannot miss it at bedtime.
Best of health, all, bryReplied by Deanna (Wyoming, Michigan) on 01/13/2010
teeth grinding: I have a question about the magnesium deficiency that people were talking about. What if you are allergic to magnesium?Replied by Jasonmchicago (Chicago, Il , Usa) on 07/07/2010
Stress and muscle tension seem to be part of bruxism. What I've been doing lately is to take 1000mg of Chelated Magnesium (available at your health foods store) and it has really helped with relaxation and teeth grinding/clentchin. I've also started exercising again and getting relaxation massages.Replied by Sherine (Barcelona, Spain) on 08/24/2011
I have been grinding my teeth since the age of 18yrs. (yes shocking! ) so I am proud to announce that I am a grinder expert!
I have tried the gum shields and yes, they definitely protect the enamel of your teeth and are a must to eat painlessly and if you want teeth later on in life! So gum shields - yes! The $5 boxer gum shield from the sports store or the $300 personalised one from the dentist will do too.
However, these are means of protection, not prevention. There are still the associated headaches and potential jaw-lining problems to watch out for. Also, sticking in a gum-shield every night and taking it out in the morning with spitty hands and washing it is not the sexiest thing to do when you have a partner in bed with you! I realised that I did not want to keep using the gum shields forever and wait for a miracle to happen to stop me from grinding! So I looked into changing the causes rather than the symptoms of Bruxism. So here are my recommendations:
You can try herbal remedies to relax the mind and muscles before sleeping. Valeriana is very good for this (in capsules). Chamomile tea can help some. Also I would recommend some homeopathy - such as Belladona (but best ask a Homeopath). Also try some Bach Remedies - those are great and easy to use/find in a pharmacy.
Overall, I think there is no miracle cure for bruxism as it is related to inner-tension and stress (therefore personal), so perhaps something needs to change in the lifestyle, and introducing activities that just rid you of the tension. For instance Yoga or Tai Chi, or any sport or passion you may have. Acupuncture has also been successful in treating bruxism.
Other practices such as breathing exercises, a bit of stretching or even a foot rub before sleeping can work wonders! I'd also recommend burning some Lavender essential oil in the bedroom before sleeping.
Lastly, a healthy diet means a happier body and mind! Again... Lifestyle. :)
Oh and last note: please beware that you don't grind in the day as well!
Hope this helps!
Replied by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 08/24/2011
Sherine, teeth grinding may indicate a magnesium deficiency. Try rubbing some magnesium oil on your body or swim in the sea (best source of magnesium) and see if you stop grinding your teeth. Research magnesium deficiency teeth grinding.Replied by Teri In T Town (Tacoma, Wa, Usa) on 10/12/2011
I spent a horrific amount of money on a custom mouthpiece at my dentist office. It didn't stop me from grinding but did stop the damage. Then I lost it. I really wanted to simply stop grinding so that I didn't wake up with a sore jaw. Cured in 3 weeks!!
Here is what I did. Before I went to bed, I taped a piece of medical grade tape over my nostrils, but poked tiny holes in it. So now I am a mouth breather. You wake with a really dry mouth, and a really wet nose, and it may interfere with your sleep a little. I took some melatonin to help knock me out while I did it. The first 10 days or so you wake with a little muscle fatigue in the jaw but not the soreness from grinding.
I also listened to a relaxation CD before bed called Insight by the Immrama Institute. You can download it for a small sum, and they are very enjoyable. Voyage (first track of Insight) makes you sleepy and relaxed.
This seems to work by retraining your jaw muscles to hold your mouth open, and releases the tension. When I stopped wearing the tape, I didn't sleep with my mouth open, but with my teeth slightly apart... And no sore jaw in the morning. Yipee!
Replied by Megamom (Buffalo, Ny) on 01/02/2012
Dear Teri in T Town, your cure sounds like a great idea. I plan on trying the medical grade tape over my nostrils tonight. Can't wait to see if it helps! The idea of waking well rested without an aching jaw and teeth is worth the bother of trying to get used to sleeping with my nostrils blocked.Replied by Martie (Tampa, Fl) on 06/27/2012
Recently, l went to the dentist and picked up a magazine to read. In it was a lengthy article by a dentist that stated breathing through your mouth when you sleep is a fast way to gum disease because it dries your gums out so bacteria grow very fast. It also stated that commercial toothpastes have glycerin in it, which causes foodstuff to stick to your teeth and harden fast. There is some research indicating bruxism is caused by a mineral deficiency, worth checking out.
