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I'm getting fitted for my first night guard tomorrow morning at 9am.
+ Show Spoiler +
They look a lot like a retainer... just more bulky. I had the impressions done weeks ago, so I'm kind of excited to pick this thing up (probably the only motivation I'll have to get up early and drive there - I hate the dentist and I'm notoriously late for ALL appointments). I have serious clenching issues, so I'm hoping my night guard will alleviate the pain I've been experiencing the last few years.
I'm concerned about my ability to actually fall asleep with it in my mouth... It's so bulky looking, and I have enough trouble falling asleep at night (damn ADD meds). : /
Has anyone here had experience with using a night guard? Did it help you? I'm concerned I won't be able to sleep with it. I've also heard of people having durability issues with their night guards. For 500 dollars this thing better not break after six months!
My dentist even recommended that I wear it during the day. Impossible. O.o
 
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I'm supposed to wear mine every night.... I wear it once a week =/
It hurts a little bit when I put it in, just because I wear it so infrequently. If I were to wear it 2 nights in a row, the second night wouldn't have any pain at all. So I suggest wearing it every night (I just hate wearing it so I only do it once a week).
If you're like me and you hate it, don't go any longer than a week without wearing it. I used to wear it once every 2 weeks. It hurt like hell when I put it in, so it wasn't a good idea. It also broke when I was putting it in once after a couple months because my teeth moved a little and it didn't fit any more... so I had to get a new one. And they're not cheap.
tl;dr
Wear it at least once a week and you should be fine
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I've never heard of a night guard before I read this. Thought you were becoming a security guard haha
What exactly does it do?
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On October 07 2011 12:21 DisaFear wrote:
I've never heard of a night guard before I read this. Thought you were becoming a security guard haha
What exactly does it do?
Night guards are worn to help people stop clenching/grinding their teeth at night and prevent damage. The technical term for the disorder is "bruxism." It's actually a pretty common sleep disorder. It's made out of hard plastic, and mine is custom fitted for my teeth. My issue is clenching which causes a lot of jaw pain and headaches (for me, some just get tooth pain/sensitivity/etc).
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Ah, makes sense
My brother grinds his teeth a lot. Are there certain levels of this problem, where at its basic level, does not need the night guard?
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It takes quite some getting used to. My advice is to put it in when you're really tired and about to drift off. If you do something like read in bed, that can help as you're not sitting there for 10 or 20 minutes focusing on how odd it feels whilst trying to get to sleep.
I've had mine for a couple of years now and while it was odd at first, these days I actually feel more comfortable wearing it than not. It's sort of become part of my routine of falling asleep.
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I should probably get one of those, I grind my teeth a lot =/ Although I find I have less problems with it if I avoid caffeine
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I believe night guards will only help out with the actual grinding of your teeth. So you wont grind them down into dust at night anymore but you will probably still clench and have any pain related to your jaw muscles being contracted all night. I think it might be a manifestation of anxiety/stress.
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i thought u were getting like a mouth guard for your nightwatch job... lol
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On October 07 2011 12:36 DisaFear wrote:
Ah, makes sense
My brother grinds his teeth a lot. Are there certain levels of this problem, where at its basic level, does not need the night guard?
Even if grinding doesn't cause him pain (basic level, typically) he is probably causing damage to his teeth. So, yes, he would benefit from wearing a night guard.
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On October 07 2011 13:02 Geosensation wrote:
I believe night guards will only help out with the actual grinding of your teeth. So you wont grind them down into dust at night anymore but you will probably still clench and have any pain related to your jaw muscles being contracted all night. I think it might be a manifestation of anxiety/stress.
I believe that stress and anxiety are the main reasons I clench my teeth so much. I've actually wondered how this is supposed to stop me from actually clenching. I get that it prevents further damage... but how is a mouth guard going to stop me from physically clenching? I've got no clue! I'm going to ask my dentist tomorrow.
I feel a bit silly for not already knowing this information lol.
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I have been wearing a night guard every night since about 2004. They are mainly to prevent grinding. They might help with minor alignment/tmj/clenching though as well. If you wear it nightly for a few days you wont even know its there. But if you stop wearing it i promise you will notice the gringing right away. I actually can't sleep without mine anymore. It really makes you notice how much you grind if you go without it after regular use, and gives me like goosebumps and feels horrible.
I still get a bit of tmj/soreness from clenching, so this is what leads me to believe they won't do much for those issues. Maybe there are special guards for those?
By the way, i just have the upper guard as my dentist said that was all that was needed for me. Not sure on the reason, I guess I will ask in a few weeks as I have an app.
Also I have had the same guard since 2004. They are super solid. Just bring it with you to all your dentist apps and they will use a special cleaner on it. Obviously make sure you brush/clean it before each use. Mine was around $500 as well. Just a heads up, but you can get them for $20 or so at most drug stores. They aren't as custom formed, but it might be worth a shot.
Wearing it during the day won't be needed for most people. The fact that you are now aware that you grind your teeth and wear the guard at night will most likely be enough for you to be aware of your grinding during the day. For example, by wearing my night guard only at night, my grinding and wearing of my teeth has halted 100% my dentist says.
I was always a bit pissed that my dentist didn't notice my gridning and wearing of my teeth until it was super obvious to him. I guess since in the US people only get 2 cleanings a year, so alot can happen in 6 months I guess. I never knew I grined until he pointed it out. Like I said though, once you start wearing it and then stop all of a sudden, there is a world of difference.
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Quit dreaming that you're chewing on gum/food.
You might not need night guards anymore x)
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I get TERRIBLE locking jaws in the mornings. I"m almost certain it's because I clench my jaw when I sleep. How much did that cost, if it's ok for me to ask?
Edit: I'm terrible at reading. Didn't look for a number, just a $ sign haha. Sorry.
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The OP says $500 as well as my post lol. But you can go to a drug store and get a generic/non custom one for like $20
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I don't have any experience with it personally, but my sister used to grind her teeth in her sleep badly, and it helped. Like some other people have mentioned you can find a mouthgaurd pretty cheap at a pharmacy or something.
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On October 07 2011 13:05 nitdkim wrote:
i thought u were getting like a mouth guard for your nightwatch job... lol
this
I have retainers that are just like this. (for anyone who doesn't know, they are just clear plastic trays that go over your teeth) I used to have braces so I need these to keep my teeth straight. There really is nothing special to using them... but I recommend brushing them vigorously AT LEAST once a week. My orthodontist said daily, but I'm really lazy. This is bad because hard white plaque will start to form on it and its very difficult to get off. As well, you should submerge them in a half water, half vinegar bath once a month so it doesn't get these yellowish/white stains.
EDIT: I've had no sleeping problems. You'll get used to them in the first week or so.
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On October 07 2011 13:52 FullNatural wrote:
The OP says $500 as well as my post lol. But you can go to a drug store and get a generic/non custom one for like $20
Insurance helped pay for mine. It's just over 500.00. I read online reviews for the drug store night guards and I got the impression they were pretty terrible. Since I do have insurance, I chose custom fitted because I can't handle the clenching anymore.
Now I'm becoming concerned about whether it will even help or not based on other comments. 
I really do clench all day as well. I have to actively think about NOT physically clenching my jaw in order to relax (if I'm stressed). Usually, I'm at work when this happens.
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I had insurance but remember having to pay about $500 out of pocket back then.
It sounds like your problem is only clenching? however, grinding usually goes along with this. Has your dentist confirmed your teeth are showing signs of grinding? If so the night guard will save your teeth in the long run even if it does not help with the clenching.
Personally I dont think this standard night guard does much for clenching. I mean its just a piece of plastic. I was under the impression that the one you have pictured (the one i have) is mostly for grinding. For example, i still notice when im sleeping that my jaw is really tight and clenched while wearing it. Like you, it is very hard for me to relax my jaw even during the day. I also have to actively think to do it. Even then its hard. This is why I think that a standard night guard wont magically stop us from clenching our jaws while we sleep. I am going to ask about this at my app in a few weeks though, and see if having the bottom guard made or some kind of other guard would help more with clenching.
It's funny you made this post, because my clenching has gotten really bad and sometimes I wake up with soreness on the very uppers of my jaws (the area in front of my ears) I think this is called tmj or something. This is a good reminder for me to talk to my dentist. In fact I even have this soreness right now ugh stupid clenching.
For me it actaully feels like my jaw is out of alingment. Only my left side teeth actually touch so I guess this is true. It almost feels like my jaw is physically not capable of relaxing Like I have to make a weird face or hold my jaw in a weird postion to relax it. Idk it sounds weird haha.
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On October 07 2011 15:12 FullNatural wrote:I had insurance but remember having to pay about $500 out of pocket back then. It sounds like your problem is only clenching? however, grinding usually goes along with this. Has your dentist confirmed your teeth are showing signs of grinding? If so the night guard will save your teeth in the long run even if it does not help with the clenching. Personally I dont think this standard night guard does much for clenching. I mean its just a piece of plastic. I was under the impression that the one you have pictured (the one i have) is mostly for grinding. For example, i still notice when im sleeping that my jaw is really tight and clenched while wearing it. Like you, it is very hard for me to relax my jaw even during the day. I also have to actively think to do it. Even then its hard. This is why I think that a standard night guard wont magically stop us from clenching our jaws while we sleep. I am going to ask about this at my app in a few weeks though, and see if having the bottom guard made or some kind of other guard would help more with clenching. It's funny you made this post, because my clenching has gotten really bad and sometimes I wake up with soreness on the very uppers of my jaws (the area in front of my ears) I think this is called tmj or something. This is a good reminder for me to talk to my dentist. In fact I even have this soreness right now ugh stupid clenching. For me it actaully feels like my jaw is out of alingment. Only my left side teeth actually touch so I guess this is true. It almost feels like my jaw is physically not capable of relaxing Like I have to make a weird face or hold my jaw in a weird postion to relax it. Idk it sounds weird haha.
This is what I'm worried about! I can relate to you so much on the clenching/jaw thing. I'll definitely consult my dentist tomorrow morning (I should be asleep atm actually, I have to get up in 4-5 hours just to get there on time) and I'll let you know what he says! I've been meaning to learn more about tmj too. I went to an ENT doctor over ear pain and he said I needed to see my dentist and that it could be related to tmj. Ughhh.
You're not alone! My jaw hurts too lol. <3
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So how did it go?!?! 
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Ugh, awful! My night guard didn't fit. The dentist tried making adjustments on it for over thirty minutes before he gave up and had another impression done. I went to the bathroom after his assistant person was finished doing my second (awful) impression. She said she was trying to get a "real good one" and stabbed me with the metal plate thing. I had that gross goo stuff in my right eye and red dye stains across my face from the dentist trying to make adjustments. I looked like hell lol. And my teeth hurt.
I couldn't believe how tight that thing was, the pressure was insane! Obviously, it wasn't made correctly, so... I know when it's made right it won't hurt that much. I'm really not looking forward to going through another fitting in 1-2 weeks.
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Ya the goo stuff sucks, especially when they pull it out. It feels like they are gonna rip out ur teeth. That sucks u have to wait for another time to get it done correctly. From what I remember, even when it's made right it will feel a bit tight the first few nights until you adjust to it. Obviously it's not supposed to be as tight as u described though.
I think my app is the 17th of this month, im going to see what more i can find out out guards, tmj, etc
Hopefully your situation works out
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On October 07 2011 13:15 Porcelain wrote:Show nested quote +On October 07 2011 13:02 Geosensation wrote:
I believe night guards will only help out with the actual grinding of your teeth. So you wont grind them down into dust at night anymore but you will probably still clench and have any pain related to your jaw muscles being contracted all night. I think it might be a manifestation of anxiety/stress. I believe that stress and anxiety are the main reasons I clench my teeth so much. I've actually wondered how this is supposed to stop me from actually clenching. I get that it prevents further damage... but how is a mouth guard going to stop me from physically clenching? I've got no clue! I'm going to ask my dentist tomorrow. I feel a bit silly for not already knowing this information lol.
Don't know if you've already had this explained by the dentist, but what I was told is that, regarding the clenching, it lessens the affect because the stress is focused only on the part where the plastic is raised and meets, thus the rest of the surface of your teeth is protected from the stress. Either way, it works.
Actually just looked at the OP again. My guard (or splint as I think of it) has a raised section over the front 4 teeth - which is what I was talking about. Means only those 4 top and 4 botton teeth connect when I wear it and close my mouth. Yours doesn't look like it has that. Be interested to hear what your dentist says regarding stopping pain from clenching.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/BFZ9t.jpg)
