I started clenching my teeth in my sleep a few years back. I do have a mouth guard but it only protects my teeth, it doesn't stop me from clenching and the orthodontist told me my dentist gave me the wrong kind of guard anyway (but can't afford to get another one)...anyway, the clenching actually stopped while I was pregnant. What a relief it was! but now it's back, and I'm starting to get headaches from it, or actually face-aches. I'm worried about the damage this is actually doing to my joints etc. Anyone facing this problem? Anyone have any luck minimizing or getting rid of the problem???

I clenched for a few years and now have really bad tmj - so you need to deal with this somehow before it gets worse as you stated . Some suggestions include getting the right night guard when you can afford to do so, changing your sleeping position - maybe try using a cervical pillow, but do not sleep prone or pile pillows on top of one another, doing meditation or using biofeeback to relax before bedtime, doing neck and facial exercises before going to sleep - many can be found on tmj web sites, do neck and facial massages before going to sleep or putting a warm compress or heating pad on your neck before going to sleep, try keeping your mouth slightly open before falling to sleep - even if it causes you to drool a bit - put an old pillow case over your pillow, during the day practice just letting your lower jaw hang a bit or keeping your lips and teeth slightly apart - this may help train the muscles into doing the same thing at night. Some people find that anxiety increases their clenching and find relief through anti-anxiety drugs however anti-deprressants (slighlty different than anti-anxiety drugs) can actually increase clenching. If you are into supplements you can go to the tmj forum here - there have been numerous discussions about some that have helped those with tmj with facial pain. You may even find soe discussions regarding clenching (often a pre-cursor to tmj) there as well.

- maybe try using a cervical pillow, ... Some people find that anxiety increases their clenching and find relief through anti-anxiety drugs however anti-deprressants (slighlty different than anti-anxiety drugs) can actually increase clenching. If you are into supplements you can go to the tmj forum here - there have been numerous discussions about some that have helped those with tmj with facial pain. You may even find soe discussions regarding clenching (often a pre-cursor to tmj) there as well.
Thanks a lot for the info, I will try the other forum for sure. I do use a cervical pillow and I am on anti-depressants (weaning off them now). I wonder if that was a factor??

Its very possible - I have read it here from other members as well as my PCPs receptionist telling me why she stopped taking Paxill ( I think that's the one most refer to as well). If you find out however after weaning off the A-D drug that you do need something there are others that can be tried as well - I don't think they all cause it.