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Teeth slightly crooked and it's driving me nuts

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Posts: 20
(@natee65)
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Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about that tight feeling. Happens to me too if I skip even one night with my retainers. My dentist mentioned something similar—basically, teeth have a memory and tend to shift back to their original positions if given the chance. It's not just sensitivity, it's actually your teeth subtly moving around again. Kinda freaked me out when she explained it, honestly...

I've also noticed that stress or clenching my jaw at night makes it worse. Like, I'll wake up and feel like my teeth shifted overnight, even though logically I know that's probably impossible. But still, it's unsettling. I've been thinking about getting a second opinion just to ease my mind, because sometimes I wonder if my dentist is downplaying it a bit. Maybe I'm just overly cautious, but better safe than sorry, right?

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skycrafter4462
Posts: 3
(@skycrafter4462)
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"I've also noticed that stress or clenching my jaw at night makes it worse."

This resonates with me quite a bit. I had braces years ago, and even now, if I'm stressed or grinding my teeth at night, I wake up feeling like they've slightly shifted. My orthodontist explained it similarly—teeth naturally tend to drift back if given the chance—but she also mentioned that jaw tension can amplify the sensation. Honestly, it's reassuring to hear others experience this too; I thought maybe I was just overly sensitive about it...

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crypto_maggie
Posts: 4
(@crypto_maggie)
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"Honestly, it's reassuring to hear others experience this too; I thought maybe I was just overly sensitive about it..."

You're definitely not alone in this. I've noticed the same thing—especially during stressful periods at work, my teeth feel slightly off in the mornings. My dentist mentioned that even subtle jaw tension can make us hyper-aware of tiny shifts or sensations we wouldn't normally notice. It's frustrating, but knowing it's common helps ease my mind a bit... Hang in there, you're not imagining things!

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Posts: 16
(@puzzle_becky)
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I've noticed the same thing—especially during stressful periods at work, my teeth feel slightly off in the mornings.

Haha, this is actually super common—I can't tell you how many patients come in convinced their teeth suddenly went rogue overnight. Stress definitely plays a sneaky role; I've seen folks who swear their teeth shifted after binge-watching the news for a week straight (can't blame 'em...). Plus, nighttime clenching or grinding is sneaky too—so subtle you might not even notice you're doing it. Good news is, it's usually temporary and nothing serious. Hang tight, it'll pass.

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rayj86
Posts: 27
(@rayj86)
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I swear I thought I was losing it when this happened to me. Kept checking the mirror like three times a day, convinced my teeth were shifting overnight. Turns out I was grinding my teeth from stress... dentist recommended a night guard and honestly, it's helped a ton.

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