h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Bruxism is teeth clenching, gnashing, grinding, that sort of thing. I happened to learn this as I have noticed that I have been clenching my teeth a lot recently.

The Bruxism Association explains that this is a subconscious behaviour that usually happens when people are asleep. I am not aware that I clench my teeth in my sleep, for me it seems to be when I am reading or thinking in 'a concentrated way'.

In my sleep I do occasionally gnash, well, more of a snap , it bloody hurts, I have bitten my tongue hard enough to make it bleed impressively and it sounds like I could break a tooth

Anyway that is a bit by the by, it led me on to thinking, what do other people do, poke your tongue out when you are thinking, sleep walk/talk, clench when you are stressed?

You have to wear a gumshield, apparently. Not sexy.

How about snoring? Mine sends seismographs quivering in Japan (and people running inland). You might have heard me.

Fist clenching - yes, it can be a useful thing to be aware of. There's a feedback mechanism - unclench and you will relax. Neck and shoulders are another one. Right now - You there! Pay attention - take a moment to sit upright and be aware of where your shoulders are. They're up around your ears, aren't they. Drop them. Drop them even further. Stretch aaaaaaand relax. Feel better, don't you. Do this regularly. Get into the habit.

I too tend to grind my teeth at night and sometimes clench them in the day.

Worse at times of stress.

Thanks for the advice on relaxation, Ed. It's good advice

As a matter of fact, I do consciously relax my jaws when I remember to.

Jabs

Were you by any chance camping on pitch 24, somewhere in Cornwall last August Ed. Have you tried any of those sexy snoring solutions

Spiller snores and Hiccup talks, and sometimes sleeps with her eyes open.

Jabs, I am consciously unclenching, I started out by smiling when I clocked I was doing it but it felt odd smiling while reading about job losses and grinning like a loon through a very long article about norovirus, so now I am just telling myself to stop it

I had a friend once who slept with his eyes open sometimes. Very weird.

Peanut, you don't have to smile, just drop your lower jaw (mouth closed or not acc to what feels best) in accordance with Ed's general advice.

Jabs

I thought I would try smiling as I like smiling, it makes me feel good and when I smile at other people I hope it makes them feel good too but in this instance just unclenching is the way forward

Generally my posture is quite good, hangover from the yoga days and relaxation techniques tie into that, so first signs of shoulder scrunching and I tend to 'auto-correct'

When it comes down to stress usually the main physical manifestation is a tendacy towards weight loss. The teeth clenching is new and I want to nip it in the bud

>>When it comes down to stress usually the main physical manifestation is a tendacy towards weight loss.

End with a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0UODYtaU3Q

Lordy lord Ed, that took me back to school disco days

My lips are sealed.