Clenching With Mouth Splint - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

kikaida01 · 12-21-2004, 01:39 PM

Does anyone clench at night while they are sleeping when wearing a mouth splint? I seem to clench on anything that I wear in my mouth while I am sleeping which makes my muscles all tired in the morning when I wake up. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop clenching while wearing a mouth splint? If I don't wear a mouth splint I hardly clench and my muscles seem more relaxed in the morning.

artbuggy3 · 12-21-2004, 07:42 PM

yep i clench every time i wear mine.....it makes my teeth so sore and my jaw ache i hardly every wear it anymore. My TMJ only comes up some times maybe one a month or something.....the splint helped in the beginning when i was going through a really bad spell but now it hardly ever bothers me.....

westin4 · 12-21-2004, 10:32 PM

kikaida.

I have that problem off and on. My dentist recently made me a soft, rubbery one to sleep in at night and it seems to have fixed that problem. It has worked so well, I just wear it all day now instead of the acrylic one.

Sometimes too....you can just need an adjustment because one of your teeth is just hitting to high.

Have you ever tried muscle relaxers at night? They are a godsend for me!

Good luck,
Karen

Mr. Cumberpatch · 12-22-2004, 01:31 PM

Kikaida,

Hold a pencil between your front teeth and try to clench, you can't, the temporalis muscles are taken out of the loop, therefore the masseter muscles are switched off.

This is what an NTI splint does. It is small, worn at night and immitates that pencil.

Give it a go mate.

Mr. Cumberpatch

littlegreek25 · 12-22-2004, 01:38 PM

This sounds like what I need. I tried the pencil idea and I see what you mean. I don't have dental insurance however, so I'm wondering if anyone knows how much an NTI might cost? Thanks for your help.

Amy