In my case, it was more of a dental hygeniest and less of the dentist. Regardless, my appointment went as follows:
- Came in. Remembered how much I dislike the smell of the dentist.
- Do I have any problems or heath changes? No…but I do find myself clenching my jaw a lot.
- Teeth cleaning.
- Do I floss regularly? No…I’ve not been really good about it lately.
- I need to do it daily. Or come in more than once a year.
- Jaw pain. Having trouble keeping it open…
- More teeth cleaning.
- Dentist visit. Counts my teeth (yes, they’re all there…)
- Hygienist comments on “TMJ on the right side.”
- Do I grind? No, just clench…
- Do I feel stressed? Yes, but no more than average.
- Solution:
- Don’t open my mouth wider than necessary.
- Try not to yawn.
- Eat big sandwiches with a fork and knife.
- Don’t move my jaw from side to side.
- Don’t bite threads.
- Take muscle relaxants – samples enough to keep me dopey for three days.
- The end.
Conclusion: Floss. Rest my jaw (I know, that one will open the door for lots of comments…). Take drugs.
4 comments
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November 9, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Laura
I feel compelled to make a really big sandwich next time you come over just so I can watch you eat it with a knife and fork.
November 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Nadine
I clench. So I have to wear a mouth guard. I feel like I’m a pajama-wearing rugby player. But my teeth are happier. Apparently.
My problem with the dentist is that when I was little, I would read all the missing-children posters on the walls. So I blame the dentist’s office for years of kidnapping nightmares.
November 9, 2008 at 11:33 pm
listingmylife
you got a guard for clenching!? my dentist said no such thing…
November 11, 2008 at 7:14 am
Nadine
Yeppers. It’s pretty much like a grinding guard, except it’s a little thicker at the front so that it keeps my back teeth from touching each other while I sleep.