Clenching my teeth with Braces?

Question

Hello. If you read back you'll see that i've had some fun dental adventures in the past Three or Four months. I've had Oral surgery to get four molars removed, three fillings and now i have braces.


I've been having some personal stress problems (those boyfriends i tell ya) and minor work related stress, and i'm not entirely sure thats the cause, but i've been clenching down on my teeth so hard that it wakes me up. Since my teeth already hurt from braces moving my teeth around, it just makes it that much worse. Recently i snapped a brace off from my teeth clenching, and now i have wire poking my cheek.



Please don't tell me to talk to my orthodontist, because i plan on it, (i'm set up in a situation where the Dr. only comes to the dentist office every other thursday otherwise i would have gone to see him sooner) but i'm wondering if there are any options right now? i see my Dr. next thrusday. And i've now acquired some built up anxiety about sleeping ... HELP Please!?

I've tried wax, and it is not staying put.

if i dont talk, or eat, i'll be fine, but i've tried the wax and it just comes right off ... even if i dry my brace, tooth and wire completely.

(ps. i am an adult, 23) :ob

About the mouth guard, i really hope there is something can use without interupting my movement of my teeth?

thanks,

Answer 1

Hello :-)

Well having had braces twice (the first time the retainers didn't fit properly and my teeth crowded again) I feel I have some advice for you.

Firstly, in order to alleviate the clenching, you should run out and buy an inexpensive "sports" mouth guard!! They are generally less than $20 and very easy to form to your teeth. Just get one for your upper arch and be sure _not_ to press it too tightly to the front of your teeth when you are forming it.

The clenching is likely being enhanced by your bf and other stress, but it is also a common side-effect of your teeth being slowly forced to move. Don't worry, it will pass. If you find that the mouth guard you purchase no longer works in a few months, you can either re-form it (with some brands) or get a new inexpensive one. You'll find that you sleep much better as your night clenching will be bufferred :-)

Also, I realize it's a bit far off, but if you are given any options at the end of your treatment, ask for your ortho to use a "Bonded Ligature Retainer" (BLR) in place of the removable one; it's plastic wire that is bonded behind your teeth and saves you from having to wear painful retainers. I've had my BLR's (upper and lower) for over a year and _love_ them!!!

Hope this helped.

Knight

Answer 2

Have an adult cut the wire off with wire cutters. That's what we were told to do. Do you have any wax? You can get that at any drug store. After cutting off the wire, if it is still hurting, you can put some wax on the offending wire.

When you see your orthodontist again, request a mouthpiece like a basketball player would wear. My kids have one for sports and that may help you at night also. It would probably be aggravating a bit, but much less so than breaking a bracket off again!

Answer 3

If you have a wire sticking you, your reg dentist can clip it, or bend it, to stop it from poking you until you see the orthodontist at your next appt. I wouldn't advise cutting the wire yourself because you could loosen it to the point it comes out the back and you may swallow it. Yes, they can make you a night guard to help prevent grinding and clenching. It will slow treatment though. They may advise you to do stress relaxation exercises before going to bed. Good luck!

Answer 4

In regards to the clinching of the teeth, you might wanna get a mouth guard for the situaition. Just dont mold it due to the fact that it may stick to your braces.

In regards to the wire poking the inside of your mouth, what's normally done to solve this problem is using wax (e.g. candle wax) and shape it into a small ball and place in the area where it is poking.

I hope this helps.