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.
"ended up cracking a tooth and needing a crown (not fun and definitely not cheap)."
Yikes, that's exactly why ignoring it isn't the best idea. I remember thinking my dentist was exaggerating when she first suggested a night guard. But after waking up with headaches and jaw pain for months, I finally gave in. Honestly, it felt like sleeping with a hockey puck in my mouth at first, lol. Took me a good two weeks to get used to it, but now I can't imagine sleeping without it.
Massage therapy did help me temporarily, but the relief never lasted long enough to justify the cost. Acupuncture...yeah, I'm with you on that one—needles near my face? Hard pass. I've heard some people swear by relaxation techniques or even meditation before bed, though personally I haven't had much luck there.
Bottom line, teeth grinding can cause some serious long-term damage if left unchecked. Better safe than sorry...and broke!
Yeah, totally agree—ignoring teeth grinding is just asking for trouble down the road. My dentist suggested a night guard too, but I'm still on the fence about it. I've tried meditation and relaxation apps, and they're nice for winding down, but haven't really stopped the grinding. Might have to bite the bullet soon though, hearing your story makes me think it's probably worth the awkward adjustment period...
