disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I am pretty sure I clench my teeth.
Every now and then I'll have a dream that seems SO real. In the dream I'm clenching my teeth/jaw and no matter what I do I can't unclench my teeth/jaw. It's a very unpleasant dream. Sometimes in the dream my teeth will even fall out, etc. I think it's a dream but it's also real and I'm clenching my teeth but it's coming out in my dreams at the same time. If that makes sense!
I've just now come to the realization, as just earlier during a nap I had another one of my clenching dreams.
This is probably what is causing my TMJ/jaw popping.
I know I don't grind my teeth though as my dentist has told me my teeth do not show signs of grinding. So I am pretty sure I just clench them.
I've also looked up some stuff about it and some of the other signs are slight loosening of teeth.... and yep, a few of my teeth are slightly loose. It's not very obvious -- the dentist couldn't even tell -- but I can feel/hear them click once in a while. And my teeth and gums are otherwise healthy.
Anyone else have these weird dreams in which you clench your jaw/teeth? Or know that you clench your teeth/jaw at night?
I am going to have to ask my dentist about this on our visit this month. Probably will have to get a guard made or something.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I clench my jaw at night while I am sleeping as well. I have read a little about Bruxism, and have heard it's a sleeping disorder, but have never looked into it.
I have had dreams of my teeth falling out, too, and sometimes my teeth feel loose. I would be interested to see what you find out and I will talk to my dentist next time I visit him!
Posts: 33 | From Utah | Registered: Mar 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
i have this, and never knew it until it appeared in my sleep apnea test results; my dentist also said i had it when he saw my teeth.
i never knew i was doing this; still don't!
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disturbedme
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Member # 12346
posted
Betty - did you have to wear a guard or do anything for it?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Hi Disturbed, we've talked about my TMJ treatment, so I know you already know about it. I used to clench and grind. Dreaming your teeth are falling out is a sign you're clenching .... because of the stimulation of those nerves in your mouth, you dream about it.
I don't do this at all anymore .... of course, my ortho still has me wearing a mouthpiece. I find that because of the jaw/clenching issues, the mouthpiece is very comfortable.
But when I had my braces and no mouthpiece, I was no longer doing this. I think it was due to my bite being so bad ... it was wrong for the placement of my jaw.
Personally, I'd get a nighttime appliance from your dentist .... you can try the cheapies at the drug store, but they're not the same.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
six - I actually do have a cheapie from the drugstore. I got it awhile ago when I thought I was grinding.
I've worn it a few times, but hate it because it's so big and awkward.
Are the ones from the dentist big and awkward in your mouth as well?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I have been clenching my teeth since all my joint problems began 7 years ago. My TMJ problems are some of the worst my dentist has ever seen! I would clench my teeth thoughout the day and night. My TMJ got so bad that I could barely open my mouth wide enough in the morning to be able to eat.
I blame it on the Lyme since it started when all my other joint pain started. I wear a night guard from my dentist and it does seem to help.
I worked as a dental assistant when my TMJ symtoms started and had gone through dental assistant schooling a few years prior, so I knew the best thing to do was to get a guard made.
There are different sizes in thickness that they can make them. Ones from the drug store are usually the thickest.
At the dental office you can usually ask to have a thinner one made if you have problems with them. We always offered different sizes to patients when they were having one made. The thinner ones are much more comfortable.
I do still have TMJ problems but it is so much better then it was in the beginning. My dentist even comments now on how much better it is.
posted
Oh, forgot to explain that the ones from the dentist are custom made by taking impressions of your teeth. So they are designed to fit perfectly. The ones from the drug store are not custom fit or only partially custom fit if you get the one that you have to heat up first. So, the one from your dentist are way better since they just pop into place. If you have any other questions just let me know.
i can't use a cpap; can hardly breath at nighttime for me anyway; ALWAYS STUFFED UP! nothing helps me.
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Tracy9
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Member # 7521
posted
Wow, I had no idea those dreams about teeth falling out were related. Great info.
I always have those teeth falling out dreams; thought I just had a phobia around that.
I have terrible clenching and grinding. I have horrible TMJ too. I have had it for about 25 years; have had braces, nightguards, and bilateral jaw surgery.
Now my teeth have slipped back to where they were before braces. I am back to broken teeth on a regular basis from the clenching/grinding. I just had to get two capped as I looked like a crack addict (per my teenager.) Two broke in a short amount of time. I have many more chipped.
My dentist says if I don't get a night guard, they will just keep chipping and breaking, so as soon as she finishes capping all the chips that is where I am headed again.
I don't like those because I feel with something in my mouth, I tend to clench down even more on it, resulting in more jaw joint pain, but she said I have no choice now!!! So, I've been making payments toward getting one.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Tracy, sometimes i do clench my mouthpiece, but I no longer have the teeth falling out dreams .... I guess it's because my mouthpiece is so well-fitting.
Disturbed, I actually am wearing a tooth positioner to do the final moving of my teeth. It enabled me to get my braces off 6 months earlier. I can't even talk with this thing in! I wear it 14 hours per day (which included nighttime wear).
But the ones just for grinding/clenching aren't as cumbersome as the ones in the drug store. They're a better fit. I might take getting used to, but I find my jaw is much more relaxed with an appliance than it ever was before.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
disturbed, if you take nothing else from these comments, please know that a custom made nightguard is well worth it!
I am a dental hygienist and clenching/grinding is pretty common, as these posts indicate.
You mentioned your teeth don't show signs of wear. I caution you - they may not show signs of wear YET! You are young?
tracy, when you're clenching down on your mouthguard, two things are happening: One, you're not damaging the restorations you spent time, energy and money on because they are protected, Two, your teeth are separated so your TMJ, the joint, is not locked in that tight, compact position.
betty, i wonder if you have discussed a nightguard for the lower teeth with your dentist?
just my thoughts...
carly
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Anyone know if insurance will pay at least part of the guard? I definitely need one made.
Thanks all!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Some ins. do pay something, but from what I know about insurance (which isn't a whole lot), many pay nothing toward the cost.
It's a stretch, but anxiety and bruxing are closely linked. It may be possbile to look into a medical ins. claim on that basis.
carly
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I wore a specially made night guard for several years, until I had cranial sacral therapy done for my head and neck pain from Lyme/FMS.
A nice side-effect of it was that after only 3 sessions at $55 each, I was able to stop using my night guard and have had no more TMJ pain for almost ten years now!
I do sometimes wake up grinding my teeth, but it no longer causes pain. My dentist says I have the hardest teeth he's ever seen, and he does not see any damage.
klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Like I mentioned before, I used to be a dental assistant but, more recently I worked as dental insurrance coordinator for three different dental group practices. This is the good paying job I had to give up last summer due to my lyme brain & fatigue... it was too stressful!.
Anyway, dental insurance is something that I know a lot about. Your insurance may cover a guard made by your dentist. It depends on what kind of coverage you have.
Some insurances cover nothing and some will cover a portion of it based off of a percentage. One way to find out would be to call your insurance and ask... that way you know.
Another way is if your dentist is knowledgeable about your insurance (which they should be) they should be able to tell you this or at least find out for you.
If you want to make sure that you don't end up responsible for the entire amount, the best thing to do is to ask your dental office to send a prior authorization for a night guard to your insurance BEFORE you get it done.
When the authorization comes back it will say for sure if it is covered or not and by how much. With all my experience with insurance companies I highly recommend this.
With all this said... it is a very good idea to get a guard. My guard helped me out a lot with my jaw and with helping me not to chip, break, or crack any teeth.
Clenching and grinding is very hard on the jaw and teeth. It is better to protect them now before having to pay more money later to get them fixed.
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I think it's a dream but it's also real and I'm clenching my teeth but it's coming out in my dreams at the same time. If that makes sense!
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