Grinding teeth and clenching - any ideas? | ADHD Information

I've always been a teeth grinder, usually when I'm anxious or mad or hyperfocusing, but never notice I'm doing it until I give myself a headache.  I also chew on my gums which leaves for bad blisters.  But since I've been on Adderall I've been doing these things less.

Thanks guys!  I didn't think it would be easy.  I'm asking my manager at work to give me a variance (basically go around the rules) on the "no mouthgear" rule.  Hopefully with some thought I can get to wear it at work.  I'm not as worried about the actual grinding as the eventual getting to the pulp and the inevitable pain and dentist chair.  Argh.

I always had bruxism - but only during sleep.  It's only been the last while where I am grinding awake - and it's noticable.  The clenching looks to others like I'm in pain - and it's a bit embarassing.  All new to me.

I'm going to keep looking for answers.  Thanks all for the support!

 

- Glen

How do you know it's from Dexedrine? Bruxism is common even in people who don't take stimulants. I have bruxism as well and it still persists without drugs. Bruxism is common in my family as well. I definitely need to get a mouth guard!

 

Glen, could you back down a little on your dose and see if it goes away? Is there a 5mg pill or only 10?

 I have the clenching problem and TMJ, and I don't take any ADD meds. When it gets very painful, I will take a muscle relaxer and it helps some. But you probably don't want to have to take extra meds to deal with your med side effects. Also, gum makes it way worse for me, I avoid it at all costs cuz I find suddenly I am chonking away like Bessie the cow, and it makes those muscles tighten up even more.

Glenn > > I don't have your problem but when I wake up in the morning I feel as if my mouth is almost glued together, Yes another one of my weirdisms.  I go thru a moving my jaw around [whee this is fun !] excirsise to losen it up, go figure . . .

 

 

Ok crew - I usually am answering questions but this one is something I thought you might have some ideas for.

As many of you know I've been on dexedrine spansules (30mg, twice/day) for 10 months , worked up from 10 to 30 over this time.  It's been almost all good - very few side effects and most are waning.

Last 2 months or maybe a bit more though I've come up against some things that concern me a bit.  I began to notice that during the day (especially when distracted with work) I have begun to grind the left side of my teeth together.  Not always grinding (as in moving them back and forth), but many times clenching the canines on the left side tightly against each other.  It only began to occur to me what was happening because I felt a small bit of pain from the thin enamel from it.

I've always ground my teeth evenly while I sleep - 2 years ago I even bought a retainer device to wear at night that shields my teeth from it.  I can't wear it at work though - they have a strict policy of taking all things out of the body that aren't solidly attached (including retainers, earrings, etc.).  So that wouldn't work even if I wore it.

I've been wondering if this could be a sign of a mild tourettes - or that perhaps the meds are working something on me (I've heard of grimacing happening with long-term use of amphetamines)?

If any of you have experienced this - have you checked with your doc or found some natural remedy for it?  I love the way the dexedrine relieves me of the chatter and negative urges all day long - but this is potentially going to lead me to the dentists' chair (I hate dentist visits) and to perhaps getting crowns or (shudder) dentures eventually!

Any ideas?

I won't change my meds unless they do something far worse - but would love to get my jaw to resume it's normal function until I get home to put in the guard.  I can't see me as being abnormal here and hope you can assist me.

 

- Glen

no glen - i have no ideas at all.  would chewing gum work??? 

you might be better off asking a dentist right now for any ideas before the trouble starts, if you see what i mean.  they might have some good solutions?

or could you talk to your work about a retainer for your special circumstance? 

chjones -

Sadly been through the asking.  We produce chips - nothing allowed in the factory that can come loose and get in the mix.  No gum for SURE - and the retainer is no good unless I get it bolted in so it can't slip out.  That's why I am checking around before going to my dentist and doctor.  I'm kind of scared that the doctor will try and make me quit the dexedrine - it works WAY too well to do that and for this little thing? - no I would rather work around it thanks.

I'm kind of hoping that this might be one of those side effects that goes away with time.  It's been with me 2 months now - like 20 percent of my time on meds.  I just want to nip this before I go into worrying about my MD on this.

Thanks for looking in though!  It's all nice to know you're around!

 

- Glen

It's all nice to know you're around!


and right back at ya!  (i love that phrase - i hadn't really come across it before) along with yada yada yada...  these are my two fave americanisms right now.

here's hoping it goes away.  it might well?  i agree though (despite my own reluctance) definitely not worth quitting the meds for.  look after yourself.

yada yada yada - yup that's american.  But the rest - well I'm canadian and we're way more original than the yanks! ROFL!  Just kidding guys.

I hope it goes away too - but my little normal voice says probably not sadly.  I'll get help if it goes on long - I have all my teeth and I like it that way.

There's got to be some happy medium.  Perhaps they'll rebuild my retainer to get attached permanently? (that would suck - but the other's at work would be happy as I couldn't chat their ears off like I do in the first couple hours on meds LOL.

I'm sure someone here will give me the idea that works.  If not - well there's always the dentist.  I have a feeling that I'd have to pay beyond this point - I have awesome dental plan but they have a limit for sure.

 

- Glen

I had that same clenching problem for about 9 months. Then I started doing it less and less and now I don't do it at all (about a year and a half after I started Adderall). I don't know why I did it less and less, I just noticed every once in a while that I wasn't clenching as much and eventually it just stopped altogether. I also asked my dentist after about a year if my teeth looked like they were damaged and he said he couldn't tell I'd been grinding or clenching. I guess for me it was just one of those weird side effects that wears off.

Meds really make me chew away on my cheeks and bite my tongue, etc.  The whole mouth thing really got to me after a while. 

I am trying exercises which are very effective for me.  No meds.  It's been really nice.

prive message me and I will direct you to the book I found the exercises in. 

I'm tired of typing the info