Open Mouth - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

kingkang · 03-27-2006, 11:09 AM

Has anyone ever tried sleeping with their mouth open? I realized that it helps me a lot and I don't wake up with headaches or jaw pain as much anymore. I'm a clencher and I've trained myself to sleep with my mouth open. Has this worked for anybody else? Unfortunately, my mouth is really dry in the morning.

Suzq222 · 03-29-2006, 05:45 AM

How did you train yourself to sleep with your mouth open if you're a clencher? I would rather wake up with a dry mouth than these splitting headaches and tight muscles.

kingkang · 03-29-2006, 08:03 AM

Hey Suz,

Thanks for responding. I start with keeping my mouth open before I go to sleep for about 5 -10 mins. Then, I go to sleep with my mouth open and then, everytime I wake up for any reason throughout the night, I make sure that my mouth is still open. If I ever feel that my mouth is closing throughout the night, I open it again. Oh yeah, and I make sure my mouth/jaw is relaxed most of all.

Of course, this takes time and conditioning to master and I've just started it, but I realized I don't have headaches in the morning anymore. I still have jaw pain though and really dry lips and mouth. I even started to use chapstick on my lips before I go to sleep. This is just one thing that I'm doing b/c I'm a clencher according to my TMJ specialist and I don't want to spent $700 for a NTI. Tell me what helps you.

Thelma-Louise · 04-11-2006, 12:08 PM

Ii force myself to sleep with my mouth open too - I start by just sticking my tongue out and then just hang my lower jaw down. Sleeping on your stomach with your head slightly tilted down over your pillow helps keep it open too. My problem is I drool. I keep a towel or extra pillow case over my pillows.