night guard for teeth

[redbird]

The ENT recommended an over-the-counter night guard to protect me from clenching my teeth/jaw in my sleep. I got one a few days ago, tried following the instructions on how to shape it, and found that it was uncomfortable enough that I couldn't fall asleep.

So, yesterday I tried reforming it, and seem to have gotten a better fit. It's still distracting, but less so:; I fell asleep with it on, woke in the middle of the night, took it out, and went back to sleep. I hope that even wearing it for part of the night will do some good, although so far it's not preventing the odd feeling in my ear that was the symptom that got me to the ENT in the first place.

The instructions say to put it in an hour before going to sleep. Whoever wrote that presumably sleeps alone, because having the thing in interferes with talking. My tentative plan is to put it on a few minutes before turning the light out, and see how it goes.

Comments

[thistleingrey]

Glad you were able to form it to a better fit! I have a dentist-made one for my lower jaw (I think dental insurance didn't cover it, something like $300 ten-ish years ago) because I couldn't get the OTC one to work at all. Over time I've learned to breathe during sleep with my mouth slightly open, more relaxed. I bet this means I snore, alas, but the dentist said it's the desired outcome from a jaw-hinge and tooth-surface perspective.

[redbird]

I'm hoping not to have to get one from the dentist, partly for expense, and partly because I want something now, and don't want to go to the dentist right now if I can help it. My next cleaning is in early March, maybe by then I'll want to add an appointment with the dentist (rather than hygienist) for this.

[mindstalk]

When I was diagnosed with grinding, I did OTC first but was told to get a proper hard one. I resisted, until they pointed out that the soft OTC ones were probably making it worse by giving my jaw muscles a nightly workout.

[redbird]

The ENT said the soft OTC one would probably work for me, based on the symptoms I described and what he saw when he looked in my mouth.

It sounds as though the difference between clenching your teeth, and grinding them, while asleep makes a difference in terms of appropriate treatment.

[thistleingrey]

Understood.

I agree re: clench vs. grind downthread, also. Though I clench and don't grind, I clench really hard, apparently ... but in general, the remedies do differ.

[tarasacon]

The dentist made ones tend to fit better, but are stupidly expensive. It doesn’t make sense that insurance doesn’t cover them as a preventative measure, but it doesn’t. I’ve been doing without for several years because of that. I keep browsing the reviews for OTC versions and getting discouraged before actually purchasing any.

[jayblanc]

I found I had to do a lot of trimming down with some scissors to get an OTC mouthguard to stop rubbing against the gums.

[otter]

I've tried an OTC night guard, and after a couple nights, it has stayed in its case in the medicine cabinet. I have a referral for a special dentist that makes custom ones, but haven't followed up on it. I hope yours is more help to you and you're able to adjust to wearing it.

[athenais]

I've had a night guard for years and I put it in right after I brush my teeth, which is right before I go to bed. An hour? That's silly. I was wearing down my molars from (apparently) clenching my teeth at night and finally agreed with the dentist that I'd get one. It really helps my jaw. I hope yours eventually helps the ear issue.

[sabotabby]

My dentist has been recommending one for years, but I'm an insomniac and anything touching my face is bad.

[tarasacon]

I’m not questioning your sensory perception, as I have similar issues, including multiple sleep disorders, but asking out of curiosity - does your brain interpret [in your mouth] as [touching your face]?

Asking because my brain differentiates the two, so while it took a week or three of practice before I could keep it in all night, I eventually learned to sleep with a tooth guard in place. My sleep improved after that because apparently the jaw alignment helped with some breathing issues/apnea. (But trying to sleep with the face mask for a cpap machine was a no go.) Obviously ymmv!

Anyway, I find how brains map things to be fascinating. :)

[sabotabby]

Oh, good point! I haven't really tested it out. I used to have braces and headgear, and that was difficult for me, but I was a kid and my ability to sleep was better back then.

[42itous]

My dentist recommended a night guard years ago, for grinding and/or clenching (he couldn't tell which I was doing, or he thought I was doing both?). I said no because of the expense. He talked me into trying an OTC one, which I did -- the kind you soften with hot water and then shape. It hurt my gums so much they were sore for a week, and I threw the thing away. The next year my dentist talked me into trying again, this time trimming it with scissors. The second one was a little better in that it didn't hurt my gums, but it made my teeth wiggly, so I stopped using it. The next year the dentist tried to talk me into trying again, but I said no. Then I found a kind that isn't shaped to your teeth, it just gets in the way of grinding -- this: https://www.target.com/p/dentek-comfort-fit-dental-guard-for-nighttime-teeth-grinding-2ct-with-storage-case/-/A-10748330. That was okay and I used it for some months but it still sometimes was uncomfortable. Finally, my friends talked me into getting the expensive, custom-fitted kind, which I did (it was less expensive ($450) than I expected ($600)), and I've been using it for about seven months and it really does help with my jaw pain and doesn't hurt my teeth or gums. It does make me talk funny, though.

You might try calling your dentist's office and asking about having a longer appointment scheduled for your March cleaning -- tell them you want to discuss the possibility of getting a fitted night guard. If you decide to do it, they can make the impression then, and then you go back a few weeks later (iirc) for final adjustments and to take the night guard home. My friends say they last a decade, which if true seems like a good investment to me (even if the dentist wants to replace it more often than that).