Totally get what you mean about the “band-aid” feeling. I tried a night guard too, but honestly it just felt like another expense that didn’t fix much. What helped me more was seeing a physical therapist—insurance covered part of it, which was a relief. They showed me jaw stretches and weirdly, working on my neck made a difference. It’s wild how many factors can mess with your bite and jaw. Wish there was a simple answer, but I guess it’s all trial and error...
That “band-aid” vibe with night guards is all too familiar. I’ve seen plenty of folks come in convinced it’d be a magic fix, only to find it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Honestly, I tried one myself during residency—felt like sleeping with a hockey puck in my mouth. Physical therapy does surprise a lot of people though. The jaw and neck are sneakier than they look… sometimes just stretching or adjusting posture makes more difference than any gadget. It’s never just about teeth, is it?
Physical therapy does surprise a lot of people though. The jaw and neck are sneakier than they look… sometimes just stretching or adjusting posture makes more difference than any gadget.
That really hits home for me. I went in expecting a mouth guard would just “fix it,” but it honestly felt so weird and didn’t really help. I get anxious about jaw stuff because I tend to overthink every ache, but when my dentist suggested posture and neck stretches I was super skeptical—until I actually noticed some relief after a few weeks. It’s wild how much tension sits in my neck and shoulders without me realizing. Still, I wish there was a more straightforward answer... the trial and error part is stressful.
You're not alone in wishing for a magic fix. I thought the same—just pop in a mouth guard and boom, happy jaw, right? Nope. Turns out my “tech neck” from staring at screens was sabotaging me more than I realized. I still catch myself hunching like a gremlin some days. It’s kind of annoying how much our posture messes with stuff you wouldn’t expect, but those stretches actually did more for me than the gadgets ever did. Trial and error is exhausting though... sometimes feels like my jaw has a mind of its own.
