My dentist actually warned me about that. She said the cheaper guards can help short-term, but they're usually softer and wear down quicker, so you might still get tooth damage if you're a heavy grinder. Did she mention anything about custom-fit guards? They're pricier, but apparently they last longer and protect your teeth better in the long run. I'm considering getting one myself...but I'm still not sure if they're worth the cost.
I've had both types actually, and honestly, I'm not totally convinced custom-fit ones are always worth the extra money. Sure, they're more durable and probably better if you're a serious grinder, but the cheaper ones can work fine for moderate grinding too. I had a custom guard once—paid quite a bit for it—but ended up losing it during a trip. After that, I grabbed one of the decent-quality drugstore versions as a temporary fix...and ended up sticking with it because it worked fine for me.
One thing to keep in mind is comfort—some people find the custom ones way more comfortable, others don't notice much difference. If you're hesitant about the cost, maybe try a mid-range option first, see if it helps. You can always upgrade later if you feel like you're still grinding heavily or going through guards too quickly.
I ignored my grinding for years, thinking it was no big deal...until one morning I woke up with a chipped tooth. Dentist gave me that "I told you so" look (you know the one). Tried a custom guard first—felt like sleeping with a hockey puck in my mouth. Switched to a cheaper drugstore one, and weirdly enough, it felt way better. Guess my teeth have cheap taste, lol. Anyway, ignoring it definitely wasn't worth the dental bill later.
I totally get where you're coming from with the custom guard feeling like a hockey puck. Had a similar experience myself. My dentist insisted on a custom-made one, and I figured, "Hey, it's expensive, must be good, right?" Nope. Felt like I was trying to sleep with a mouthful of Legos. I toughed it out for a week or two, but eventually gave up because I was waking up more exhausted than before.
Funny enough, I also ended up grabbing one of those cheaper drugstore guards out of desperation. It wasn't perfect, but it was way more comfortable. My dentist wasn't thrilled when I told him, but he admitted that comfort matters more than price tag sometimes. He did warn me though that the cheaper ones might not always protect as well long-term, especially if your grinding is severe.
Anyway, your chipped tooth story hits home. I ignored my grinding for years too, thinking it was just stress or something temporary. Then one day, I woke up with jaw pain so intense I could barely open my mouth wide enough to eat breakfast. Turns out I'd developed TMJ issues from all the grinding. Now I'm stuck dealing with jaw exercises and physical therapy appointments—definitely not how I imagined spending my free time.
You're right though, ignoring it definitely isn't worth the hassle (or the dental bills). Glad you found something that works better for you. Teeth can be weirdly picky, can't they?
Totally relate to the Lego-mouth feeling, haha. But honestly, my custom guard was a lifesaver—drugstore ones kept slipping around and drove me nuts. Guess it's just trial and error till you find your Goldilocks guard... teeth are weirdly picky indeed.
