LymeNet Flash: Gnashing of Teeth

This is topic Gnashing of Teeth in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :

Went to the bio-dentist last Monday and had my problem tooth extracted. Cavitat showed cavitations in all four quadrants of my mouth.

I need 20 crowns because my teeth are so worn from grinding them. Just a warning to all who have 'gnashing of teeth' from the evils of lyme disease: ask your dentist to make a guard for you to wear at night and/or during the day if you grind them while you're awake. You could save yourself $20,000 to $30,000.

Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :

This is important information for all. I have been wearing a night guard for 15 years. Lyme has made the grinding much worse. If it were not for the guard I would have more than the 5 crowns I already have.

TMJ can result from the grinding as well.

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I've grinded all my life. Problem is, I didn't know it.

I knew it when I lived at home, because I was constantly being smacked by an unidentified object by one of my three sisters who all bunked with me.

Once I married King Tut however, I was never aware I still had this problem- until two months ago.

Until the pain in my jaw, neck and shoulder, got to the point I pondered suicide because of lyme. I went 3 years thinking this pain was lyme.

Long story short? It wasn't and I'm in your club also. My bruxism responded quite nicely to a mouth guard and the getting rid of some unecessary stress in my life.

Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :

Thanks for the affirmation. I didn't think I would be the only lymie destroying my teeth this way. Thing is, you don't realize you're damaging your teeth until it's too late. I used to grind my teeth because of the pain and emotional torture . . . now it's just a bad habit.

Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :

V, sorry to read about this for you too.

Have you thought about just having your teeth pulled and full dentures replacing them?

I grind my teeth too; didn't know it.

bettyg

Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :

No. Don't remove teeth. The possibility of bacterial infection and symptoms of lyme would be a lot.

Your gums will probably be sensitive after the crowning procedure.

I had oldstyle crowns on 2fronts since I was 22 or so. Just had the porcelains put on last spring (just prior to being bit again). The nerves were very sensitive to the entire process for at least 1 - 1.5 weeks after procedure.

bettyg: I don't pulling the teeth is an alternative. I don't know. I know I certainly wouldn't.

I know of another lymie who needs surgery of the lower teeth alignment and the dentist told him he risks having numbness and tingling if he wants to do the procedure.

docdave will come in soon, I'm sure.

Posted by JesusisLord (Member # 5776) on :

Biting Back:

Gosh, I'm really sorry to hear about your dental problems and the cavitations. I will continue to pray for you.

Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :

At the risk of offending anyone who is a dentist, there is a much cheaper way to get a mouth guard than to have a dentist make one.

Go to a sporting good's store and buy one like is used for football players and follow the instructions for how to heat and mold it to your teeth. This is what I use and it costs less than $4.

I had a friend with TMJ. He spent a lot of money at the dentist to get a mouth guard made and ground right through it very quickly. He now goes to the sporting goods store and his guards last longer.

Hiker