"My dentist was also pretty vague about the separate guard thing, just said it wouldn't hurt anything..."
Haha, sounds familiar. My dentist gave me a similar shrug-off when I asked about switching between aligners and my night guard. I tried juggling both for a while, but honestly, I felt like my teeth were getting confused—like, "Are we straightening or chilling tonight?" 😂 Eventually, I ditched the guard and stuck strictly to aligners overnight. Not sure if it sped things up, but it definitely simplified bedtime.
I totally get what you mean about teeth feeling "confused," haha. When I was doing aligners, my dentist also brushed off the night guard question with something vague like
But honestly, switching back and forth felt kinda counterproductive to me. Eventually, I just stuck with aligners overnight too—figured consistency was probably better for progress. Teeth seemed happier, bedtime was simpler...win-win all around."it wouldn't hurt anything..."
Interesting point—I understand why consistency felt better for you. Dentists often give general advice because everyone's teeth respond a bit differently. It's usually best to check in regularly and see what's working comfortably for you personally...sounds like you found your sweet spot already though!
Dentists often give general advice because everyone's teeth respond a bit differently.
That’s true, but I sometimes wonder if there’s a risk of missing subtle issues by just going with what feels comfortable. Did anyone here have to switch routines after noticing unexpected side effects, like gum sensitivity or shifting?
I actually had to stop using whitening strips for a while because my gums started getting super sensitive. Thought I was just being paranoid, but turns out my technique was off. Guess “comfortable” isn’t always the best guide... teeth can be sneaky.
