Comments on: My Face Hurts http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/ Black. Gay. Father. Vegetarian. Buddhist. Liberal. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:53:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Lee Weinstein http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-186883 Lee Weinstein Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:01:11 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-186883 Subconscious tooth grinding (bruxism) is a serious problem for a lot of people. Over 1 million people in the USA wake up in pain every day from nighttime tooth grinding. I am an inventor (invented Laser Tag and a bunch of other cool stuff), and I had enough friends who suffered from the problem that I have taken several years of my life and worked on the problem. During my divorce I started grinding and clenching my teeth as well and began using one of my own inventions (a biofeedback headband that helps people kick the habit of nighttime <a href="http://StopGrinding.com" rel="nofollow">tooth grinding</a>). Once tooth grinding has become a habit, it doesn't matter what the initial cause was, because you can remove that cause and the habit remains. There are many ways to interrupt a habit and modify the habitual behavior. For a fairly complete list of the ways that have worked for different people to kick the habit of tooth grinding, check out the non-profit resource website StopGrinding.org. Subconscious tooth grinding (bruxism) is a serious problem for a lot of people. Over 1 million people in the USA wake up in pain every day from nighttime tooth grinding. I am an inventor (invented Laser Tag and a bunch of other cool stuff), and I had enough friends who suffered from the problem that I have taken several years of my life and worked on the problem. During my divorce I started grinding and clenching my teeth as well and began using one of my own inventions (a biofeedback headband that helps people kick the habit of nighttime tooth grinding). Once tooth grinding has become a habit, it doesn’t matter what the initial cause was, because you can remove that cause and the habit remains. There are many ways to interrupt a habit and modify the habitual behavior. For a fairly complete list of the ways that have worked for different people to kick the habit of tooth grinding, check out the non-profit resource website StopGrinding.org.

]]> By: Josh http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-184699 Josh Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:43:51 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-184699 I've been through two NTI devices. All that they do is stop me from damaging my teeth. They don't seem to address the root cause of grinding/clenching, nor do they stop my jaw muscles from being tight. If you do go with the NTI device, make sure that your dental practitioner does not grind down the top portion of the device. The most helpful part of my first device (prior to it being ground at an angle) was that it was tall enough to keep my teeth further apart. This seemed to keep me from clenching with as much vigor. I would suggest finding something that will go on your front teeth (mine was fitted to my lower front teeth) and that you can barely close your mouth around. I felt my jaw relaxing, and had less tinnitus (ringing of the ears) until my dentist cut it down. I find that I have started "sawing" my bite guards, so I begin to get divots in them, which allow me to clench with more force. I'm looking for something else that doesn't cost me $500 a pop, especially since I seem to keep wearing bite guards out. I've briefly considered trying a ball gag (like in Pulp Fiction), but was concerned about over-salivation and what people would think if they saw it. I’ve been through two NTI devices. All that they do is stop me from damaging my teeth. They don’t seem to address the root cause of grinding/clenching, nor do they stop my jaw muscles from being tight.

If you do go with the NTI device, make sure that your dental practitioner does not grind down the top portion of the device. The most helpful part of my first device (prior to it being ground at an angle) was that it was tall enough to keep my teeth further apart. This seemed to keep me from clenching with as much vigor. I would suggest finding something that will go on your front teeth (mine was fitted to my lower front teeth) and that you can barely close your mouth around. I felt my jaw relaxing, and had less tinnitus (ringing of the ears) until my dentist cut it down.

I find that I have started “sawing” my bite guards, so I begin to get divots in them, which allow me to clench with more force. I’m looking for something else that doesn’t cost me $500 a pop, especially since I seem to keep wearing bite guards out. I’ve briefly considered trying a ball gag (like in Pulp Fiction), but was concerned about over-salivation and what people would think if they saw it.

]]> By: Leanne http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-180532 Leanne Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:34:42 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-180532 I'm going through an excruciating version of the same thing. I am under a lot of stress right now, but since none of the stressful factors in my life seem bound to change at any point soon, I'm left with daily pain in my jaw, face, temples and teeth. Arrrghh!!! Frustrated doesn't begin to describe. I haven't tried a mouth guard yet, but I think that most of my clenching happens during the day. I spend my days at work in front of a computer and my nights at school doing the same. My boyfriend just looked over at me from across the room and told me he could see my jaw muscles jumping like I was gnawing on gum! Eegads! I stretch my mouth, do yoga/pilates, exercise regularly, do the facial yoga "lion pose", massage my jaw muscles...what else should one do to stop clenching? My doctor had no suggestions other than "relax" and "try advil if it's bad". Well, I've clenched through to my forehead now and am glad to have vented. I know this isn't a terribly recent post, but maybe someone will come through with some advice. Cheers! I’m going through an excruciating version of the same thing. I am under a lot of stress right now, but since none of the stressful factors in my life seem bound to change at any point soon, I’m left with daily pain in my jaw, face, temples and teeth. Arrrghh!!! Frustrated doesn’t begin to describe. I haven’t tried a mouth guard yet, but I think that most of my clenching happens during the day. I spend my days at work in front of a computer and my nights at school doing the same. My boyfriend just looked over at me from across the room and told me he could see my jaw muscles jumping like I was gnawing on gum! Eegads! I stretch my mouth, do yoga/pilates, exercise regularly, do the facial yoga “lion pose”, massage my jaw muscles…what else should one do to stop clenching? My doctor had no suggestions other than “relax” and “try advil if it’s bad”.
Well, I’ve clenched through to my forehead now and am glad to have vented. I know this isn’t a terribly recent post, but maybe someone will come through with some advice. Cheers!

]]> By: BML http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-180142 BML Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:41:15 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-180142 I tried the guard from the drugstore, but it was a little too bulky for me to sleep with. The guard from the dentist is better. I don't think I do it during the day though. I tried the guard from the drugstore, but it was a little too bulky for me to sleep with. The guard from the dentist is better. I don’t think I do it during the day though.

]]> By: Yondalla http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179984 Yondalla Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:31:57 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179984 oh...I don't do this very often but if I am particularly stressed (like sitting down to grade 50 papers) I do sometimes put it in during they day. Chewing gum also works as a day-time alternative. oh…I don’t do this very often but if I am particularly stressed (like sitting down to grade 50 papers) I do sometimes put it in during they day. Chewing gum also works as a day-time alternative.

]]> By: Yondalla http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179983 Yondalla Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:30:35 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179983 I have a custom fit mouth guard from my dentist. I got it because the dentist was noticing the beginning of stress in my teeth. I had agreed when he told me that if I tended to have headaches this could help. It did - starting the first day. I have a small mouth and am not confident that I could get a pre-made one that would be comfortable. I'm on my second one. I chewed through the first in about 2 years. I have a custom fit mouth guard from my dentist. I got it because the dentist was noticing the beginning of stress in my teeth. I had agreed when he told me that if I tended to have headaches this could help. It did - starting the first day. I have a small mouth and am not confident that I could get a pre-made one that would be comfortable.

I’m on my second one. I chewed through the first in about 2 years.

]]> By: craig http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179979 craig Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:25:36 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179979 go to your local sporting goods store and get yourself a boil-and-bite mouthguard. pop it in before you go to sleep and you can grind your teeth as much as you'd like, you won't do any damage and you won't wake up with a splitting headache! plus, its far cheaper than going to the dentist, who would probably do nothing more than prescribe a custom-made mouthpiece. trust me, i know. My father is a dentist. go to your local sporting goods store and get yourself a boil-and-bite mouthguard.

pop it in before you go to sleep and you can grind your teeth as much as you’d like, you won’t do any damage and you won’t wake up with a splitting headache!

plus, its far cheaper than going to the dentist, who would probably do nothing more than prescribe a custom-made mouthpiece.

trust me, i know. My father is a dentist.

]]> By: stroll http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179978 stroll Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:06:06 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/02/25/my-face-hurts/#comment-179978 I have a little teeth grinding problem too, doesn't sound as bad as yours though. And I know what you mean about stress and time. I don't have two kids either and it's still tough! What I can offer is get a "white noise" or a "pink noise" CD to play when you go to bed. I recently discovered this and it's very stress relieving. I have a little teeth grinding problem too, doesn’t sound as bad as yours though. And I know what you mean about stress and time. I don’t have two kids either and it’s still tough! What I can offer is get a “white noise” or a “pink noise” CD to play when you go to bed. I recently discovered this and it’s very stress relieving.

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