The custom guard was a game changer, even though the price tag stung a bit. For me, it also helped with jaw clenching (I grind my teeth when I’m stressed), which I didn’t expect. The headaches eased up too.
That’s wild, I never thought about guards helping with jaw clenching and headaches. I always just worried about chipped teeth or biting my tongue. Did your dentist mention that as a possible benefit, or did you just notice it on your own? I’m super anxious about grinding at night but haven’t tried a sports guard for it—wonder if it’s different from a night guard?
I totally get the anxiety about grinding—I've been a night grinder for years and honestly, it took me forever to realize it was causing more than just worn teeth. My dentist actually brought up the headaches and jaw pain thing after I mentioned waking up with a sore jaw most mornings. The custom night guard made a huge difference, but I did try a sports guard once (just because it was cheaper and I was desperate). For me, the sports guard felt bulky and didn't fit as snugly, so I kept waking up with it half out of my mouth.
The night guard my dentist made was thinner and molded to my teeth, so it stayed put and was way more comfortable. I still clench sometimes, but the headaches are way less frequent now. If you’re worried about grinding at night, I’d say the custom night guard is worth considering even though it’s a bit of an investment. The relief from jaw pain alone was a surprise bonus for me.