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Jo's Teeth Grinding Story... Locking Jaw and Terrible Noise

by Jo
(Essex, UK)

I have been grinding my teeth whilst asleep since I can remember - although I didn't always believe it. When I was younger, I had terrible problems with my jaw. My jaw would lock every time I tried to open it past a certain point. And if I was laying on my back, it would lock open and I'd have to sit up and literally force it closed again - very painful. The doctor I saw said I was grinding my teeth so gave me a bite guard, however, after a year or so he said this wasn't the case as there were no grind marks on the guard. I had a CAT scan and found that my cartilage in my jaw joint was very worn, nearly completely and I was having to dislocate my jaw in order to open and close it every time.


Over time, my jaw problems stopped and now my jaw seems fine - however, since being with my husband and sharing a bed, I have realised how much I grind my teeth. He says the noise is terrible and has even recorded me doing it (quite horrific)! I cannot grind with anywhere near the same strength to make the noise whilst I'm awake! I now have a bite guard (£200 NHS) and it seems to be helping a lot. I still grind whilst wearing it but not as frequently and my teeth are safer! Plus my husband only has to put up with my snoring now!

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