"I'm curious though, has anyone talked to their dentist about whether these benefits are common or just lucky side effects?"
I actually asked my dentist something similar last visit, and she said it's pretty common. She explained that when you're grinding your teeth all night, it doesn't just affect your jaw—you're basically putting tension on a whole chain of muscles that connect through your neck and shoulders. So reducing grinding naturally helps ease that tension.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first too, but since I've been using my guard regularly, I've noticed fewer headaches in the mornings as well. It's surprising how interconnected everything is... I wish I'd started sooner instead of ignoring it for so long. Has anyone else noticed other unexpected benefits from wearing a night guard?
I was kinda skeptical too, but after finally caving and getting a night guard, I noticed my neck and shoulders felt way less stiff in the morning. Didn't even realize how tense I'd been waking up until it stopped happening. My dentist mentioned something similar about muscle connections, but honestly, I just thought she was exaggerating to get me to wear the thing, haha. Turns out she was right...guess dentists know stuff after all.
Yeah, night guards are surprisingly helpful...I put it off forever because they seemed pricey, but eventually found a decent affordable one online. Honestly, my headaches and jaw soreness improved a ton—definitely worth trying if you're on the fence.
Did you notice a difference right away, or did it take some time to adjust? I've been grinding my teeth for years and honestly just ignored it because I figured it wasn't a big deal. But lately, the jaw pain is getting worse, and I'm starting to wonder if I've done permanent damage. Did your dentist mention anything about long-term effects if you don't use a guard? I'm thinking I might finally need to bite the bullet and get one...
I ignored mine for ages too, but honestly, getting a guard was a game changer. Took maybe a week or two to get used to it, but the jaw pain eased up pretty quickly. My dentist did mention that long-term grinding can wear down your teeth permanently, so better safe than sorry...
