Thursday, May 15, 2008

You body doesn’t lie

Even if you do. Honestly, I didn’t think I was this stressed. I’m sleeping fine. I’m eating fine. I’m no more stressed than I usually am.

However, for the last couple of weeks my jaw has been hurting. It’s gotten so bad, I can hardly chew right now and it sometimes hurts to talk. I called my dentist and he thinks it’s probably because I am grinding my teeth very hard when I sleep.

I do grind once in awhile but this is the first time that it led to my jaw hurting. What else could it be but that I am stressed out about something? It’s not hard to pinpoint the reason I am stressed. I am going to go with 'Work' on that one. I just didn’t think it bothered me that much.

I can’t visit the dentist for a night guard until I come back from vacation. I guess it’s Advil until then.

4 comments:

krystalatwork said...

Yikes, maybe that's why I've been getting pains below my ear, by my jaw. I grind my teeth a lot when I'm stressed out.

I've been thinking about getting a night guard, but can't see how I'd be able to sleep with it in my mouth!

Leanna said...

You know, I've never known myself to be a grinder, but about a month ago now, during a pretty stressful week, I thought I had a toothache. When I went to the dentist, it turned out to be from me grinding my teeth! Yeeesh.

I didn't get an official night-guard or anything, I just ended up buying a $3 mouth guard from the local sports store. It was hard to get used to at the beginning, and I do usually spit it out overnight, but its helped a lot. I haven't gotten any jaw pain recently.

Hope you feel a bit better :)

Anonymous said...

It could be TMJ. I have that and I find it worse in times of stress as well. Just check online for articles about how to deal with it. A dentist mouth guard is alright but one from a sports store will work just as well.

Esme said...

savingdiva,
Thanks for the sympathy :)

krystal,
I heard you only need to wear the guard for a few months to get rid of the habit. It might be worth it.

Leanna, Nicole,
I think I will go see about a mouth guard at the sports store. I don't know how much it will be at the dentist but it definitely will be more than $3!