"Fast forward a decade, and now my teeth look like they've been sanded down by a carpenter, lol."
Haha, that's quite the vivid description! But seriously, grinding can sneak up on you. I've seen patients who've ignored it for years, and by the time they come in, they're dealing with sensitivity, cracked teeth, or even jaw issues. A custom night guard can really help—it's not glamorous, but definitely beats the alternative of dental work down the line. Better safe than sorry...
I ignored mine for a few years too, thinking it wasn't a big deal...until my dentist pointed out tiny cracks forming. Got fitted for a night guard and honestly, sleeping took some getting used to, but it's worth avoiding bigger issues later on.
"Got fitted for a night guard and honestly, sleeping took some getting used to, but it's worth avoiding bigger issues later on."
Haha, relatable...I felt like a boxer gearing up for a match the first few nights with mine. Kept waking up wondering what the heck was in my mouth. But yeah, you're spot on—better to deal with it now than pay big bucks fixing cracked teeth later. I ignored mine for ages too, until my dentist casually mentioned my teeth looked like they'd been through a war zone. Nice, right? Anyway, glad you caught it early enough. Hang in there, you'll get used to the mouthguard eventually...and bonus points if you scare your partner when they wake up at night and see you grinning like a hockey player.
Kept waking up wondering what the heck was in my mouth.
Haha, reading this thread makes me wonder—am I the only one who actually found the mouthguard comfy from night one? Maybe my dentist just nailed the fit perfectly, or I'm weirdly adaptable. But seriously, now you guys have me curious...how long did it take everyone else to get used to theirs? And did anyone notice less jaw soreness or headaches after using it regularly? I swear mine helped, but maybe it's all in my head (pun intended).
I get what you're saying about comfort, but honestly, I had the opposite experience. Mine felt super awkward at first—like having a chunk of plastic stuck in my mouth. Took me about two weeks before I stopped noticing it every night. But here's the thing...even though it wasn't comfy right away, I did notice a big difference with jaw pain and headaches after about a week or so. Before using it, I'd wake up with a stiff jaw and sometimes even neck tension. After sticking with the guard, those symptoms gradually faded.
Maybe your dentist really did nail the fit from the start, or maybe you're just lucky! But for anyone else struggling, I'd say give it some time. It might feel weird at first, but the benefits can be pretty noticeable once you get used to it. Also, if it's still uncomfortable after a few weeks, definitely check back with your dentist—sometimes minor adjustments can make a huge difference.
