it used to embarrass me...

[Charla]

Do you have anything that used to embarrass you, but you've embraced it (or at least gotten used to it) as you matured?

I'll go first...I grind my teeth at night. I have to wear a "night guard" so I don't hurt my teeth or jaw anymore. I had major problems with it in college, when I finally figured out what it was.
How embarrassed I was: when I was in Turkey, my teacher, who was a dear friend my age and tutored me, would invite me to stay the night with her family. I always refused but never said why; I didn't know how to tell her that I didn't have what I needed to sleep! She even asked once why I never stayed the night...I really wonder if I hurt her :cry: .

Anyways. Now I know that it's no big deal and it's just part of who I am. And keep a close watch on the kids to be sure they don't grind too, so they don't end up with problems like I did!!

[heathert]

Heh. I broke through an acrylic tooth guard in 3 nights. The dental school at my university were completely baffled. I finally learned to fall asleep with my tongue slightly stuck between my teeth. That way if I start to grind, I wake myself up in a hurry!

[Charla]

OUCH! yeah, that would be one way to do it!! :thud:
Thankfully it takes me awhile to get through most mouth guards. There was one cheap one that fell apart in a couple days, but thankfully it was only a few dollars. At least the one from the dentist lasted a long time! (sticking with the Target ones now)

[Unica]

My baby girl (well she is 4 now, not much of a baby anymore) grinds her teeth like mad at night. It started recently after she stopped using her pacifier. I'll be taking her to the dentist when she gets back from Brazil (the two older girls went for a month). It just baffles me that they can start that young. Reading you girls talking about it just reminds me of how important it is that I take care of it now!
Charla, any suggestions on how to help her stop?

[donnawells]

I have difficulty eating at other people's homes. I'm a super picky eater and I'm so afraid they'll fix something that I absolutely hate and then I'll be stuck trying to choke down whatever it is. I do what I can to avoid dinner invitations. I would much rather just skip the food, or else go to a restaurant so I can order what I like. It was REALLY stressful when I was a kid. I guess that's not as much embarrassment as it is sheer terror! Ha

[lynnirene]

I have teeth-grinding problems too!

I look very young, and at times it used to embarrass me. I'd like to say that I am over it, but that's not really true! It still does bother me some, but I am trying to get better about it. I am almost 30 but I seriously think I could pass for 15 if I wanted to!

[Charla]

Lynn, I know what you mean. When I was in college, people would always think my sister (5 1/2 years younger than me) was my older sister. At 33, I'm not worried about that, but at 19, it didn't make me feel good! So I understand completely!

Donna, I can understand that, since DH has food sensitivity, so we have to be very careful of what he eats. So I can understand your preferring to skip the food or go out to eat where you can control it!

I had no idea so many people had teeth-grinding problems!

Vanessa, I don't have any suggestions, because I do hear Jasmine do it when she changes position in her sleep. I'm just having the dentist check for any wear every appointment, and as long as he thinks she looks okay, I'm trying not to worry. You could talk to her dentist about it. It does start very young...it's very common for them to do it a little when they first have teeth on the top and bottom. I think a little is almost a good thing, so it smooths the rough edges a little. But obviously it can get pretty bad, too. I don't know if they make the mouth guards for kids, but you can ask. It doesn't keep us from grinding, but prevents the wear on our teeth and the pain in our jaws!!

[Unica]

Thanks Charla. I'll definitely talk to her dentist :)

[hollyinjapan]

My husband and son both grind their teeth very badly. (son not so badly yet, but....) I can't even sleep in the same room with hubby because he grinds his teeth, snores loud enough to rattle the door and yells and screams in his sleep in both English and Japanese (I'm NOT kidding).

I can't think of anything that I do that USED to bother me, because they still do bother me. I lean to the left when I'm sitting -- like a slouch -- and its really screwed up my back. I try to be conscious of it but still find myself leaning a lot!

[mshanhun]

I have a jaw splint thingy too! I clench my jaw at night - apparently it's stress related. I got it just before we got married, I can sleep without it, but I'm used to it now.