TMJ and mouth guards

[TrickyBob]

Do any of you use an over the counter mouth guard? I really need to do something about this and the earliest my dentist can get me in is a few months from now. (I don't consider this an emergency and don't want to pay the emergency fee to be seen ASAP). 

I just need something to keep me from clenching and grinding. =/ 

[hungrycaterpillar]

You need to cut your number from 2.5 daily to 2.5 monthly. No need for mouthguard.

[hungrycaterpillar]

Seriously though, something that I've been doing is seeing a PT for dry needling. It has helped a ton with my grinding and clinching. Moreso than a mouthguard ever has. I have severe TMJ problems - so much so that I have a jaw deviation and facial atrophy due to it. Dry needling has been the best thing for the pain and clenching thus far.

[TrickyBob]

Mar 5, 2014 9:07:09 GMT -5 @dovey1122 said:

That sucks. Can't believe you have to wait that long! Is that normal? my uncle is a dentist, so I get thuper thpecial treatment

It's normal for any dentist I've ever gone to. Usually a 2 to 3 month wait if you don't schedule every 6 months religiously. I had to cancel mine last time and forgot to reschedule so it is my own fault. 

[jaycee]

I don't have tmj, but I do grind a little in my sleep. I've tried 2 or 3 different otc mouth guards and found all to be absolute crap. They fall out in minutes.

[TrickyBob]

Mar 5, 2014 9:08:19 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

Seriously though, something that I've been doing is seeing a PT for dry needling. It has helped a ton with my grinding and clinching. Moreso than a mouthguard ever has. I have severe TMJ problems - so much so that I have a jaw deviation and facial atrophy due to it. Dry needling has been the best thing for the pain and clenching thus far.

What is dry needling? I hold all my anxiety and stress in my jaw and the ear pain/headaches are obnoxious. Not to mention the clicking and popping every time I yawn/eat/etc. 


This is also why my husband doesn't get 2.5 bjs a day, LOL. 

[hungrycaterpillar]

Mar 5, 2014 9:12:25 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Mar 5, 2014 9:08:19 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

Seriously though, something that I've been doing is seeing a PT for dry needling. It has helped a ton with my grinding and clinching. Moreso than a mouthguard ever has. I have severe TMJ problems - so much so that I have a jaw deviation and facial atrophy due to it. Dry needling has been the best thing for the pain and clenching thus far.

What is dry needling? I hold all my anxiety and stress in my jaw and the ear pain/headaches are obnoxious. Not to mention the clicking and popping every time I yawn/eat/etc. 


This is also why my husband doesn't get 2.5 bjs a day, LOL. 

In it's simplest form, dry needling is similar to acupuncture but it's more specific. It's manual therapy on an intramuscular level. Dry needling targets specific muscles whereas acupuncture is more hollistic in nature.

Here's a study on dry needling for TMJ: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482522/

It doesn't work for everyone and more research needs to be done on the exact mechanism of how dry needling works (because there is no consensus at this point) but I've done it on patients - some (most really) express instant relief following the procedure, and others not so much.

Also, have you had your neck checked out? Most people with TMJ problems also have issues with their cervical spine. You may find relief with some postural adjustments. Do you slump at your computer? Are you shoulders rounded? My TMJ problems are definitely a shared issue with my neck problems. My best advice would be to get it checked out by a PT to get some pain relief in the meantime before your dentist visit.

[TrickyBob]

Mar 5, 2014 9:20:04 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

Mar 5, 2014 9:12:25 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

What is dry needling? I hold all my anxiety and stress in my jaw and the ear pain/headaches are obnoxious. Not to mention the clicking and popping every time I yawn/eat/etc. 


This is also why my husband doesn't get 2.5 bjs a day, LOL. 

In it's simplest form, dry needling is similar to acupuncture but it's more specific. It's manual therapy on an intramuscular level. Dry needling targets specific muscles whereas acupuncture is more hollistic in nature.

Here's a study on dry needling for TMJ: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482522/

It doesn't work for everyone and more research needs to be done on the exact mechanism of how dry needling works (because there is no consensus at this point) but I've done it on patients - some (most really) express instant relief following the procedure, and others not so much.

Also, have you had your neck checked out? Most people with TMJ problems also have issues with their cervical spine. You may find relief with some postural adjustments. Do you slump at your computer? Are you shoulders rounded? My TMJ problems are definitely a shared issue with my neck problems. My best advice would be to get it checked out by a PT to get some pain relief in the meantime before your dentist visit.

I know I sleep with my chin tilted toward my chest and if I am laying around playing on the computer, it is at the same angle. I know that 100% makes it 10x worse but I don't know how to correct it when sleeping. I've tried neck pillows, soft pillows, hard pillows, no pillows. 

[karmasabiotch]

I have an RX one but can't sleep with it. I did everything in my power to try getting used to it but I kept feeling like I was chocking. I hate that fucker.

[Tootsieroll]

I'm a bad clencher and I've tried quite a few night guards and the only OTC one that I've liked is this one:http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036WTV2C
It's boil and bite so there is a suction effect that actually keeps it in my mouth.

[justamirage]

you might try this:  www.litebitemouthguards.com

It's an athletic mouthguard like you get at the dentist, but my son has a friend who uses it at night for teeth-grinding.

[DarkRaven]

I use this one:

www.target.com/p/dentek-maximum-protection-dental-guard/-/A-14244161?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C14244161&CPNG=Health+Beauty&kpid=14244161&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14244161&gclid=CMK1sJfz-7wCFeJF7Aodt3wACw

It doesn't fall out very easily b/c you heat it up and mold it to your top teeth.  It does take some getting used to (just having something in your mouth all night), but I haven't had any issues with this one.  I make a new one about once a quarter, and I brush and clean it everyday.

[game blouses]

Haven't done the OTC night guard, but PT was very effective for me as well. My therapist found that I didn't have a full range of motion in my neck, especially on the side where my jaw clicked the most. PT was extremely helpful for remedying the issue, and the night guard helps to maintain it.

[purrbox]

Mar 5, 2014 12:13:17 GMT -5 justamirage said:

you might try this:  www.litebitemouthguards.com

It's an athletic mouthguard like you get at the dentist, but my son has a friend who uses it at night for teeth-grinding.

My mom's a dentist, and this is essentially what she makes for me. It's contoured to the teeth so it stays in place, it's thick enough to last through months of grinding, and it's thin enough that you don't wake up gagging in the middle of the night.

I probably have to replace mine every 6 months. I'm not sure how much it costs to get this made by a dentist, but it's so worth it. Been wearing it almost every single night since I was 18, and there's no way in hell I'm ever going back to sleeping without it.