How can I stop grinding my teeth?

Hi i have a bruxism tray. I am grinding my teeth still with it. If i forget the tray, I actually chew my cheek and tongue. I have chewed my tongue where blood has come before. It is gross.

I had one doctor say I should consider wiring my jaw, but I saw what that did to another friend of mine and I think it made her unhealthy. She was drinking her nutrition from a straw. And basically I don't want surgery.

Does anyone have any tips about what to do? I was told I don't have an overbite, so I have no idea why I am doing this. I don't think its stress as I personally do not feel stressed and this has been happening since I was little.

I would like to stop as it causes a lot of pain. Also, I don't want to end up looking like Mrs Magoo.

Are there any latest state of the art strategies nowdays? Thanks.

Thanks for your answer. I don't feel I have stress, but maybe you are right. After all, life is stressful for anyone. I do work out a lot. My mom grinds her teeth. My grandmother used to grind hers, so I always thought it was inherited. I did try valiums and another relaxant I forgot the name of but it wasn't for me. They made me fat. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

There are dentists who focus on bruxism and TMJ disorders, since grinding may over time cause a problem in your TMJ. If you have the nightguard then stick with it. There are several different kinds, and they'll at least keep you from grinding down your teeth. Grinding isn't always tied to stress...a lot of people just do it in their sleep and there's not really a good way to stop it. I'm not sure how orthognathic surgery would help, so I think you're right not to go for that. But I would agree with what someone else said about a muscle relaxant like flexeril when you sleep, especially if that pain is in your jaw muscles.

Im 21 and i still grind my teeth during sleep!! i just wanted to add my 2 cents sorry!! I cant help you

I used to grind, but then I stopped, but there's something you have to consider first. Grinding teeth IS caused by stress. If you don't have stress that you know of, you have stress that you are unconscious of, or you have ignored. If you've been doing this since childhood then the stress is likely from then! Did something challenging come your was as a child, like divorce, death of a loved one, even the birth of a sibling. When you find the source of this repressed material, then your grinding will stop when you simply make up your mind. But you can't do it unless you acknowledge what your body is trying to tell you!

I assume a 'bruxism tray' is a molded mouth guard which is normally worn at night. If you are still having the problems you describe, you could try a muscle relaxant. It is a bit odd that your symptoms are so extreme and you don't notice any stress. Either you are more stressed than you realise, in which case some vigorous exercise every day could produce relaxation of excess muscle tension, or there is another problem. How long has this been going on? If longer than a couple of months and exercise doesn't help, I would consult a neurologist and perhaps have an EEG. Your symptoms sound severe enough to pursue a solution. First stop could be a really excellent dentist, if the first one doesn't help, seek out a better one. They vary a lot. Good luck!