Why am I doing this?!

[tigwig]

For the last few days I've woken up with the insides of my mouth really sore and my teeth clenched tightly. It's now got that bad that Im doing it through the day and can't stop. My teeth ache and my mouth is sore. Ho w can I stop and what an earth has caused me to start doing this? Am I just weird lol?!

[woofgang]

no you aren't weird, you are stressed about something

[bednobs]

have you recently started on any medication?

[Sqad]

I agree with woofgang, it is almost certainly stress related.

bednobs....what had you got in mind?

[daffy654]

My Tramadol tablets cause me to clench my teeth a lot.

[lil75]

I use to grind my teeth in my sleep, all anxiety related...try googling it

[tigwig]

No meds at all, can't think of any reason why its started. The kids can be stressful lol but thats about it.

[Hopkirk]

This is called bruxism, and if you google it you will find loads of information.

Interestingly there is some suggestion that there could sometimes be a lack of something in the diet linked to it.

The following is copied from Wikipedia

"There is anecdotal evidence that suggests taking certain combinations of dietary supplements may alleviate bruxism; pantothenic acid, magnesium, and calcium are mentioned on dietary supplement websites. Calcium is known to be a treatment for gastric problems, and gastric problems such as acid reflux are known to increase bruxism"

Perhaps it is worth taking something like Centrum, or another wide ranging vitamin and mineral supplement to cover all bases.

[Goodsoulette]

I get that too with Tramadol, bednobs, well it makes me chew my tongue but with real clenchy teeth.

[karenmac60]

Tigwig, I don't know why you are doing it, but you can get dental mouthguards made to prevent it - or you can do what I did and get a cheap sports mouthguard from the supermarket. You soak it in boiling water and then put it in to mold to the shape of your mouth, then wear it at night. It won't solve whatever problem you have that's stressing you out, but it will save you getting a sore mouth in the meantime x

[Sqad]

Hopkirk...Bruxism is "grinding" the teeth.....making a noise.......quite different from what tigwig is describing.

[Hopkirk]

I used to grind my teeth as a child, and in adult life have gone through periods of waking with clenching, so I assumed they were the same Sqad.

Surely they must be related, with similar causes?