BUYER'S REMORSE!
I don't know if it's an inherited trait or not, but I grind my teeth in my sleep. Probably as much as I rub my feet together. :)
I was waking up in the mornings feeling exhausted, I often had a headache, and my jaw just felt tired. For a few months I tried a mouth guard that I bought at the drug store, because I finally figured out I must be grinding my teeth. I wore this mouth guard for a few months.
My jaw didn't get better, infact, it got more painful.
Turns out, this stupid guard was making me grind and clench my teeth even more! It's a rubbery material, so in my sleep, my mouth must've been chomping away on it like I was chewing gum!
Not only that, it must be designed for a person with a really big mouth. It molds to your teeth, but it was so bulky, even after I trimmed it down it rubbed so much on my inside cheeks that I got cankers back there that were very painful.
I have now since had a custom mouth guard made by a real dentist. The difference between that and this dang over the counter crap is unreal. The custom one is a hard plastic material - it doesn't make my mouth naturally want to chew and chomp. I don't wake up with headaches at all. It's much slimmer so I'm not drooling. A major improvement - MAJOR.
The over the counter mouthguard may work for an athletic situation, but from my experience, I would totally fork out the money and have my dentist make me the custom one.
Don't waste the money on this one:
*DO NOT BUY IF YOU GRIND YOUR TEETH OF HAVE TMJ*
My mouth hurts just reading this post. I don't think I grind my teeth... But I have been known to talk in my sleep or get very grumpy when I'm awakened to walk upstairs to bed after I've fallen asleep on the couch. :)
ReplyDeleteWith your worrying personality, I am very surprised you don't grind your teeth! As Stacie says below, I find if I am stressed or anxious I grind much worse in my sleep. ;)
DeleteI made the exact same mistake and second the comment that the store brands make it worse. I however am not as in love with my custom one as you seem to be...but mine is a good 8 years old so maybe they've improved. I wear mine when I am stressed to avoid the constant migraines...
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you really had a hard time with the mouth guard you bought over the counter. Sometimes, we tend to find remedies for our problems on our own, and although there are times that they work, we should always keep in mind that nothing beats the experts to give us solutions. Good thing you consulted your dentist, and had a custom-fitted mouth guard made for you. In any way, I hope you're faring better, Emily. Thanks for sharing that! I wish you all the best!
ReplyDeleteIsabel Phelps @ Buck Head Dentist