Changing pillows or mattresses might help a bit, but honestly, I think it's more about overall sleep quality than just posture. I've noticed that when I'm super stressed or overtired, I grind way more, regardless of how comfy my bed setup is. Relaxation techniques could be worth a shot, but maybe also look into your evening routine—like screen time or caffeine intake? Sometimes small tweaks there can surprisingly ease tension overnight...just a thought.
"Relaxation techniques could be worth a shot, but maybe also look into your evening routine—like screen time or caffeine intake?"
I definitely agree that stress and evening habits play a big role, but from personal experience, ignoring teeth grinding altogether can lead to dental issues down the road. I used to think it was just stress-related too, until my dentist pointed out some enamel wear and suggested a night guard. It's not the most comfortable thing at first, but it really helped protect my teeth...might be worth considering alongside relaxation methods.
I feel your pain with the night guard thing...mine felt like a hockey puck at first, lol. But honestly, after a week or two, I barely noticed it anymore. Before that, I was waking up with headaches and jaw pain almost daily, and my dentist kept pointing out tiny cracks and wear spots on my teeth. Relaxation techniques definitely help, but for me, stress wasn't the only culprit—turns out my bite alignment was off too. Did your dentist check your bite alignment? Might be worth asking about next time you're in. Also, random tip: if you do go the night guard route, keep it away from pets. My dog thought mine was a chew toy...that was an expensive lesson learned.
I had a similar issue with my bite alignment—my dentist mentioned it briefly, but didn't really dive into it. Now I'm wondering if that's why my night guard never felt quite right...might get a second opinion just to be sure. Thanks for mentioning that!
"Now I'm wondering if that's why my night guard never felt quite right..."
Funny you mention that—I had a similar experience. My dentist gave me a generic night guard at first, and it always felt off, like it was pushing my jaw in a weird way. Eventually, I got a second opinion from another dentist who explained that even small alignment issues can make standard guards uncomfortable. Ended up getting a custom-fitted one (pricey, but worth it). Might be worth checking out if your current one isn't feeling right...
