Grinding teeth

Posted by gtjo47 @gtjo47, Apr 27 9:55am

My spouse diagnosed with PD since 2 years and taking Cardilopa.Since 3 months he started grinding teeth’s which is involuntary according to him.Any recommendations?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Parkinson's Disease Support Group.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1 10:05am

Hi, @gtjo47 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Teeth grinding is a bit worrisome, only in that you want to continue to have them to chew food and not look very unusual.

I learned from my dentist I was grinding my teeth and that an antidepressant I was taking was prompting it. I really didn't want to get off that medication, so the dentist prescribed a mouth guard to protect my teeth. That's worked beautifully. It's actually weird for me to sleep without it now.

I'm guessing he's taking the combination medication, carbidopa-levodopa? If so, here's some Mayo Clinic information on the medication that may be useful, including side effect information:

- Carbidopa and levodopa (oral route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/carbidopa-and-levodopa-oral-route/description/drg-20095211

Have you had the chance to speak with your husband's dentist about the grinding? If so, what did he or she recommend?

gtjo47 | @gtjo47 | May 1 10:48am

Thank you for the reply!Neurologist recommended reduced dose if Carbidopa and Dentist ordered a mouth guard

nova11723 | @nova11723 | May 4 6:58am

I grind my teeth some at night mostly when my medication is wearing off, although I have noticed I also do it when I am more stressed. There is no easy way to stop it in my experience; you usually have to take deep breathes to reduce the stress or go to bed and get some sleep. Staying hydrated also seems to help.

gtjo47 | @gtjo47 | May 4 7:46am

Thank you

jatonlouise | @jatonlouise | May 10 1:21pm

See your dentist for the grinding teeth. One thing thhey can do is get a nightguard to prpotect his teeth and also make him gaeind less. The dentisst can also acclude his teeth. Teeth are supposed o meeet, fitted to each other. Sometimes that is the souce of the grindinf. The dentist can ddtermne whther th teeth are meeting each other like they should and if they aren;t, he can polish s little bit off the sulrfaces of the teeth so they will fit and not slide, and thus grind. I don't know anythn g about meds to help this, but you cana find out from your neurologist about that and your dentist may also know of such meds anad see whether a combination of these things will hellp.