About teeth and sleep...?

Question

While I'm sleeping, I apparently do this thing with my teeth where my mouth is closed, but my teeth are clattering, almost as if I am constantly biting down on something. It's not necessarily grinding, it's just my teeth hitting each other over and over. I don't wake myself up when I do it, and didn't know until my boyfriend told me I do it in my sleep. He says I do it all night sometimes... Also some days I will wake up and my teeth will feel sort of odd. Like I had been clenching them together for a long time. Not quite loose... but the front teeth will be touching each other in a way that feels unusual, not the same as it used to be. It's very strange... No pain involved or anything, but it still bothers me and I'm sure it's not the best for my teeth.

Anyone have any advice as to where I go from here, what to do about it, or possible similar personal stories? Any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

You are probably grinding your teeth in your sleep. You can either go and buy a mouth guard at a sporting goods store (such as Dick's) or go to your dentist and have a mouth guard fit personally to your teeth (for the most benefit, but higher cost). This is what is recommended for the patients we see that have problems like yours.

Answer 2

Yes you are clenching your teeth unconsciously because you are subtly aware that they are sometimes banging together invoulutarily. You may be suffering from a simple mineral deficiency of potassium which is very hard to get through foods. Potassium defeciency in the body causes muscles to jerk and fire off. If you are also feeling "twitches"in your arms, legs, neck, feet, or anywhere else in your body on a regular basis you may be short of the mineral potassium. The twitches and jerks happen most of the time, but you are more aware of them when lying still in bed. Potassium is a nescessary mineral the body uses for smooth muscle responses. Your jaw is heavy with muscles and these muscles may be clenching, and chattering because of a potassium deficiency. Potassium pills can be bought at any over the counter drug store, but they do not add much, only 3% per day of what you need. Bananas, and particularly V8 vegetable juice are rich in natural potassium. V8 will yeild 34% of the daily potassium you need in a large size serving. Drink one each day, and eat bananas and rasins. It will take about 2 weeks till you see the clenching subside because the body absorbs potassium slowly and it needs to be ingested daily. I believe this may in fact solve your problem. It solved mine completely. During sleep my teeth clashed so often and so hard that I sometimes woke up with the insides of my cheeks being bit and bleeding. Potassium stopped it cold afte 2 weeks of high potassium intake. Do not ingest more than your daily 100% however. Good luck.

Answer 3

Get yourself a mouth guard which will keep you from doing the bite down grinding thing all night long. You can also brush with Sensodyne toothpaste when your teeth have that "strange" feeling and it will go away almost immediately.

Answer 4

Go to the doctor or the dentist and get a bite guard. People wear them at night to protect their teeth. I clench my teeth when I'm awake. I had no idea I was doing it until my dentist told me that she could see the wear marks on my teeth. She recommended if I didn't work on being aware of it and relaxing my jaw that I should get a bite guard.
http://www.dental-mart.com/docmoutguar.html?OVRAW=bite%20guard&OVKEY=night%20guard&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=4059071011&OVKWID=10019490011

Answer 5

Reverse Your Tooth Decay - http://DentalBook.uzaev.com/?omwg

Answer 6

YOU DO HAVE A MILD FORM OF BRUXISM. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TI HAVE YOUR DENTIST MAKE YOU AN NTI BRUXISM APPLIANCE
SEE THE LINKS BELOW.