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Teeth Grinding

Desmond1979

Today, I had an appointment with the Hygienist and Dentist. The latter told me that, due to my teeth-grinding, I require a mouth shield.

While it doesn't seem like a big deal, it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Spending so much, recently, it was a straw breaking the camel's back. Didn't help matters that I circumnavigated the centre of that town, for a place to park, as the only free bay at the park opposite the Practice was Disabled.

Then, I went to my main town; buying an LP at the record shop, plus oranges at Lidl. Then had to negotiate a planned diversion, due to the main road home being resurafced.

MY life is stress, in a bottle. Living on your own isn't all a bed of roses. Stuff needs doing. And life keeps dealing lemons, while you don't have the opportunity to make lemonade.

At least I have Leah. Plus a cleaner, who comes once a week. But it's a temporary dopamine rise.

  • I was told I needed a guard the moment I turned 18 and was eligible for one. I then proceeded to kill 3 in under a year and have now got a more hardcore one that is surviving longer.

    Stress will always be an issue for me, I've learned how to harness some of my anxiety and am learning to manage the rest. I am doing much better than I used to, but I can't imagine it ever being fully gone. There's just too much to do.

  • I can relate, it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I also had the same discussion at the dentists, I'm trying to find a guard that I can tolerate that I won't chomp through.

    I've been seeing a psychologist and we've been discussing the "stress bucket", mine feels full to the brim with the meniscus holding on for dear life. I have some clearly identifiable stressors which I'm unable to effect massively, others seem less tangible but no less impactful.

    I don't get a dopamine, serotonin or endorphin boost so I don't have much to counteract the negative impact of the stress. The straw that broke the camels back always feels like it's on its way.

  • Considering teeth grinding can be attributed to stress & anxiety, perhaps a trip to the Doctor is in order.  The Dentist is likely doing a good thing here - by saving you further pain down the line.  

    I do realise - when you have one of those days when everything seems to conspire against you - or everything happens that wasn't in the plan - that these things seem like a big shock, but it could turn out to be a blessing. 

    You see, I over-think everything.  That is a nightmare too, but the chances are that I've likely thought of (most) of the possibilities to each scenario before they arise, and while it is an exhausting & tedious procedure - It does at least present some relief when the reality is quite often less bad than what you feared might happen. 

    When my Dentist advised me to get a mouth shield it was roughly the same time my Doctor put me on something for anxiety.  I didn't need both.  This isn't medical opinion, this is just me recounting my experience - it could be worth checking out.  

  • Hoping that today proves to be a more relaxing one for you.