Teeth clenching

[solo2]

I grind or rather clench my teeth day and night without being aware I am doing it.

I've started to crack my teeth and the long term implications are not good. Dentist gave me a brace for the night but that doesn't help me daytime. I cannot seem to stop. I'm stressed but no more than what I now consider normal, but I can't stop.

Anyone else do this and got any ideas on how to stop? Is it even possible to stop?

[MorganP104]

Have you tried doing something else with your jaw, rather than clenching it?

For instance, have you tried chewing gum?

I don't have clenching/grinding issues, though I do like a bit of Extra Ice White between brushings/after meals.

ETA: A mate of mine used to unknowingly grind his teeth. It turns out he was drinking too much strong coffee (an excess of caffeine can cause some coffee drinkers to grind their teeth). Once advised by his dentist to cut down on the java, the grinding stopped.

[Patch1875]

I have a similar issue but I tense up my tongue! Thought it was teeth grinding at 1st but that was ruled out, stress seems to be he key factor I don't think I'm particularly stressed but I seem to suffer from not being able to disengage the brain and relax.

[MitchT]

I used to do the same - once had to go to the dentist and get them to smooth off the edge of a tooth where a small bit had broken away because I was clenching so hard. Also used to chew my tongue in my sleep and then wake up with a mouth full of blood. I was very stressed at the time - in a bad relationship and very frustrated at work - constantly consumed by angst and going over and over (inside my head) the arguments I'd like to have with people if I could speak my mind, winding myself up into a really angry state. I had to teach myself to let things go, though getting out of the aforementioned relationship was what really helped fix things.

[hepy]

I was doing this a few months ago, thought not as bad as the op. At a dental check up they recommended a mouth guard - £110 private or £240 on the NHS.

Weirdly enough, went away on holiday, and it's been fine since and I have never used the mouth guard.

Worth £90 if it saves the OP on dental treatment.

[Sticks.]

Sounds like good advice. i apparently grind my teeth at night so my dentist made up a gum shield. I thought I'd not be able to sleep with it but it fits tightly and is pretty comfortable. He didn't charge me either.

[drfrank]

Have you tried botox ?
Botox injected into the masseter muscles and temporalis muscles can help bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly, your dentist should be able to help you out.