Grinding teeth?

[DoggieLoverbon]

Does anyone else notice that when they start to get anxiety they begin to grind their teeth? It’s become a recent and annoying habit of mine. Because I’ll grind them, and then get pressure or sharp pains around my ears and side of head and then realize I’m grinding my teeth the whole time

[Hidden]

Yes, I'll do that sometimes.

[HealthBuddyMelissa]

I don't actually grind them but I do find myself clenching my jaw which leads to similar symptoms you described. I find being Mindful of my reactions when in a stressful situation helps me alleviate this.

[DoggieLoverbon in reply to HealthBuddyMelissa]

That’s how it started. I was clenching really hard and I tried to stop that which turned into grinding and clenching. Which is better than my older symptoms I’d say, but it has long term effects on your jaw

[Darryl Partner]

I am a grinder.

[thyroidmom84]

All the time

[RustyBucket36]

Yeah I grind my teeth at night. I had to get a mouth guard to avoid dental damage.

[Funkyfaerie]

I clench and apart from a sore jaw and tender teeth and gums, I get tinnitus, neck, shoulder and upper back pain. My dentist said they are classic symptoms.

Tried a mouth guard to no avail.

Been told that present and past trauma get stuck in your brain, call it "brain under siege!" And until you sort your issues out you will clench and have the pain. Makes sense to me!

[Dolphin14]

I have cracked many teeth from grinding. It's a big issue. I wear a guard at night. I do grind as the the guard is worn. The guards job is to protect the teeth from hitting each other. I won't stop the grinding.

My problem with cracking is I probably grind all day and don't even realize it. I've had many cracks over the last 3 years. I've also grinder a hole in my guard. That hurt really bad I can't even tell you!

[Likeabadstorm]

I clench clench clench. Got a night guard too. I don’t even realize it sometimes and then my jaw muscles start getting so tight and painful, head pressure, pulsatile tinnitus, tinnitus, abound and neck tightness too.

[Cicinoodle]

neck and shoulder shrugs and jaw relaxation before bed can help. Try yawning and scalp massage. We are all stressed and tense in these hard times.

[hippieebbbz09]

Yes! I do have TMJ and if you can, learn to undo this as much as you can NOW . It’s the most uncomfortable & you don’t want to always feel those aches behind the ears , near the jaw , neck , base of neck etc..like some cycle for months , even years..it sucks. Mouth Guards barely work. Do not let this habit rule , don’t. Like it’s interfered ...almost ..with my eating (and I’m a foodie!) & made my teeth slightly sensitive ...it can wear at your enamel if you do that long enough.

Pardon me , if my words are triggering , I try to consider what words to use— in case anyone (health anxiety sufferers , or GAD) gets easily triggered and anxious off the words one could use.

Anyways haha ,

That’s when I knew I have to get some control on managing anxiety . It’s like when you get over one habit , you get another :/ You can do this and recover .

But yes, when in a panic, around PMS time ..I grind my teeth.

[Kariben]

Oh boy, do I clench my teeth! I find myself clenching during the day, so I will make myself relax my jaw. The problem is that most of my clenching is in my sleep. I have a night guard, but I think that it just gives me more surface area for clenching. By any chance are you on an antidepressant? I take a small dose of Celexa for my anxiety disorder (been on it for 17 years) and I read that these kinds of meds can cause teeth clenching/grinding. I try to do guided meditation, and it helped some. I have also found that eliminating refined sugar and caffeine from my diet helped. With this a Coronavirus stuff, my anxiety is higher and I am stress eating junk food. My clenching has gotten worse. Just “food “ for thought

[DoggieLoverbon in reply to Kariben]

When it was at worst was when I was on busbar. My anxiety medication, but now it doesn’t happen as much since I’ve gotten off of it

[Philc345]

Yes I do it and clench my jaw i thought it was just me and not the anxiety