I am absolutely miserable because of soreness in my gums and very, very sore, sensitive teeth. I grind my teeth every single night. Most nights it's so bad my husband either goes to the den and sleeps or he'll go to another bedroom and sleep.

This is nothing new, it's been happening for years and years. It's only getting worse though. Now I'm getting neck pain from it and I've already got chronic daily headache from it.

Over the years since it began I've tried absolutely everything possible to make it stop and not one thing has even come close to working. I've tried hot packs to my jaws before bed, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, tranquilizers and every type of splint possible and nothing has worked.

I've had hard splints, acrylic, soft ones, the splint made by Dr Boyd that people discuss, etc. Nothing works. I think in my particular case, the splints simply give me something to grind against rather than slow it down or stop it.

My gums receed in areas from it. I've chipped teeth, I've broken teeth. I have several upper missing molars that were extracted because of damage from grinding and because of having trigeminal neuralgia.

Some days the pain is worse than others but it's always there and it's finally worn me out.

Any ideas on what to try next? My dds has told me several times to get the molars replaced with implants and that * may * help some. I can't afford that. They're too expensive. I could afford it if I hadn't spent thousands of dollars on splints, etc.

I do not take any medication except for what I take to help prevent and control the neuralgia and I've been on it for years. I take tylenol when needed for pain but other than that, I don't take anything.

Help!

Hi,

I think when you visit your dentist, they will have some good recommendations for you probably to see a peridonist for your gums, they are good, and know how to treat the gums.

Good luck!

Dana

I had a really bad case of grinding and it ruined my natural teeth, then it became a problem with the subsequent bridgework. My hubby also said he would lay there at night ometimes listening to the grinding. At the beginning of the year, my Dr. fit me with a little device called an NTI device (not sure what the full name might be). It is fitted right to your particular mouth in minutes, and it just fits onto the two front teeth and it holds your jaw very slightly open at night--just enough to prevent the bruxism. It trained me completely out of it whithin about a month and a half, and I haven't had any problems since. It about 2-250 bux before insurance. My insurance paid 80% of it, plus my doc (who has known me many years) gave it to me for 100$ before ins. It really did the job for me, and has saved me a lot of $$$ in dental repair bills. Ask about the NTI device--it could be just what you need! It even came with a glow in the dark storage box for those nights the lights are already out before you remember to (or can) put it in. ;)