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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 5:33:22
my dentist made me a bite guard because he claims I 'clench and grind'. It's this plastic thing with a little block hanging off the front kind of like some big buck teeth. I can't even close my lips over it. (No doubt I'll drool a lot more)
I'm supposed to wear it to bed every night for the rest of my life. I have never felt less sexy. this can't be worth it.Remember the SATC episode where Miranda gets braces because her dentist tells her she's a 'tongue thruster'?
Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2003, at 9:07:08
In reply to the peak of un-sexiness, posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 5:33:22
I watched that episode just yesterday. :) In the end she decided to tongue thrust away.
Are you allowed to leave it off on special occasions?
I'm a clencher and grinder myself on occasion. Even chipped of a bit of upper tooth which matched perfectly with the shape of a lower tooth, my dentist showed me.
Is there any chance that if you manage to reduce the stress in your life, your clenching and grinding will decrease?
(But actually it sounds kind of cute. And I'll bet the right guy would find it adorably sexy.)
Posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 13:22:38
In reply to Re: the peak of un-sexiness, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2003, at 9:07:08
dunno about the stress -- doc says it's the brain wiring making you do it automatically.. I read its also side effect of ADs, but can't tell if they mean daytime or sleeptime.
I slept with the darn thing and it was so tight I think it moved my teeth. They don't fit together quite right this AM. I had dreams about it, and my teeth.
it's icky to clean, i'll buy some fizzy denture tablets, maybe it will be fun.
my research says that grinding/clenching is the biggest risk for gum disease except smoking. I don't want receded gums, nothing can be less sexy than that. I'll try to persist, I'll try.
Posted by shar on June 28, 2003, at 14:38:23
In reply to Re: the peak of un-sexiness, posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 13:22:38
Oh, you kids. I can almost guarantee that a bite guard will not be the peak of feeling unsexy. Time will tell. Enjoy the rest of it all instead of focusing on that. Anyways, who wants a guy/gal who can't deal with a bite guard?! What about dentures?
Your 51-year-old,
Shar
Posted by yesac on June 28, 2003, at 17:14:35
In reply to the peak of un-sexiness, posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 5:33:22
I've had the mouthguard suggested to me MANY times, but never got it because it's so fricken expensive! I even had one hygienist who made the statement that my teeth look like an 80-year-old's! I'll never get over that. So tactless, and an exaggeration.
My sister got one and ended up spitting it out most nights.
I bought a cheap one at walmart but months went by and I didn't use it once so I returned it.
My dentist told me a few months ago that they really don't even know what the teeth grinding is about. Everyone assumes it's stress, but there hasn't actually been much research about it. It affects mostly young professional women.
Posted by kara lynne on June 28, 2003, at 19:37:24
In reply to the peak of un-sexiness, posted by Tabitha on June 28, 2003, at 5:33:22
I'm a grinder with a nightguard. I actually like wearing it--it gives me something to sink my teeth into (!)
Since moving I can't find mine, however. You'll get used to it, and you won't end up wearing it every night--unless you want to.
Also--certain ssri's clearly exacerbate it. Paxil had me about grinding my teeth right offf.
This is the end of the thread.
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