Lock jaw and mouth guards

[Anonymous]

I clench my teeth terribly, usually bc of stress. Ive done this my entire life. I’ve also been prescribed a mouth guard to save my teeth, but every single time I wear it, my jaw locks and it takes a few days for my jaw to loosen up again. So I don’t wear it.

Is there a doctor that can help with this? Is there a mechanism that will have me sleep with my mouth open so I don’t clench?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" specifically refers to tetanus.

A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

[Anonymous]

PS: there are some exercises you can do, like "lips together/teeth apart" that can help. That would likely be rehab services, such as PT, OT, or SLP.

[Anonymous]

Talk to the dentist who gave you the mouthguard. sounds like you need a TMj specialist but it's a racket so be guided by your dentist if you trust them. If not, your regular doctor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" specifically refers to tetanus.

A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

Sorry, you’re right, my jaw locks. But totally unrelated to tetanus.

My dentist had my mouth guard custom made. She hasn’t taken my issues seriously and it hasn’t been too much of an issue the last several years but I just broke my crown so I think I’ve had lots of stress the last year.

I have an appt coming up and will ask for a specialist this time around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS: there are some exercises you can do, like "lips together/teeth apart" that can help. That would likely be rehab services, such as PT, OT, or SLP.

Is this something my doctor or dentist would refer me too?

[Anonymous]

I had a mouthguard that caused my jaw to click the next day after I wore it. It was super annoying but not as bad as what it sounds like is going on with yours! My dentist kept trying to adjust it-I’d bring it in, they’d file away at it, and I had the same weird click. Eventually I just gave up. But I’d think your dentist might want to at least try to adjust it for you. My dentist would really have kept working on mine forever…he was convinced that he could make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" s.
pecifically refers to tetanus
A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

no one thinks that anymore

[Anonymous]

Dr. Bolding in Bethesda made me a mouth guard and it has made my jaw pain much better. She is a TMJ specialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" s.
pecifically refers to tetanus
A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

no one thinks that anymore

learn to google

[Anonymous]

My physical therapist said to avoid mouth guards for my clenching. They said they often make people clench more because they are soft and kind of satisfying to bite, causing more locked jaw in the long term.

I had to practice mouth opening exercises more instead and some manual jaw pt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" s.
pecifically refers to tetanus
A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

no one thinks that anymore

I do! I came on here to see who had tetanus and how a mouth guard would help. Or hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My physical therapist said to avoid mouth guards for my clenching. They said they often make people clench more because they are soft and kind of satisfying to bite, causing more locked jaw in the long term.

I had to practice mouth opening exercises more instead and some manual jaw pt.

See, this makes more sense to me. I really think I need to figure out a way to counter the automatic tensing I do. Did you get a PT referral from your doctor and/or dentist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My physical therapist said to avoid mouth guards for my clenching. They said they often make people clench more because they are soft and kind of satisfying to bite, causing more locked jaw in the long term.

I had to practice mouth opening exercises more instead and some manual jaw pt.

See, this makes more sense to me. I really think I need to figure out a way to counter the automatic tensing I do. Did you get a PT referral from your doctor and/or dentist?

Does your specific insurance plan require a referral from a primary care provider?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can talk about "locking your jaw," but the phrase "lockjaw" s.
pecifically refers to tetanus
A dentist would be the best specialist for this. Did a dentist prescribe the mouth guard, and if so, have you readdressed this problem with them?

no one thinks that anymore

I do! I came on here to see who had tetanus and how a mouth guard would help. Or hurt.

I've never heard of anyone having lockjaw in real life and I'm ancient. That's why we have the shots.