I had no idea there were actual exercises for jaw tension...that's pretty interesting. Did your dentist give you specific exercises, or did you have to see a physical therapist for that? I'm still adjusting to my night guard, and honestly, I'm not sure if it's helping yet or just adding another layer of stress before bed, lol.
Also, has anyone tried acupuncture or massage therapy for jaw issues? I've heard mixed things about it, but I wonder if it could help with the underlying muscle tightness. My dentist never mentioned stress management or muscle relaxation—just handed me the night guard and basically said "good luck." Maybe I should look into a second opinion too...
I totally get the frustration with the night guard. Mine felt like some medieval torture device at first, lol. I actually found massage therapy pretty helpful—my therapist showed me how to gently massage the jaw muscles myself, so I didn't have to keep paying for sessions (budget win!). Acupuncture sounds intriguing too, but I haven't tried it yet...might be worth looking into if you find a decent price or community clinic.
"Mine felt like some medieval torture device at first, lol."
Haha, I felt exactly the same way! Honestly though, ignoring teeth grinding isn't something I'd recommend. I tried that route years ago—ended up cracking a tooth and needing a crown (not fun and definitely not cheap). Massage therapy sounds promising, but acupuncture...I don't know, needles near my face make me nervous. Still, if it helps you relax your jaw muscles safely, might be worth a cautious try. Good luck with whatever you decide...it's definitely frustrating dealing with this stuff.
