I dealt with teeth grinding for years myself, and honestly, ignoring it was a mistake. Thought it was just stress-related and would pass, but ended up cracking a tooth and needing a crown—expensive lesson learned. Drugstore guards can help temporarily, sure, but if grinding persists or gets worse, investing in a custom one might save you money (and pain) down the road. Better safe than sorry...dental work isn't cheap or fun.
"Drugstore guards can help temporarily, sure, but if grinding persists or gets worse, investing in a custom one might save you money (and pain) down the road."
Yeah, I've been using a store-bought guard myself—it's okay-ish, but still wake up with sore jaws sometimes. Did anyone find that switching to a custom guard actually improved their sleep quality too, or just protected teeth better? Curious if it's worth budgeting for...
I switched from a drugstore guard to a custom one last year... honestly, it helped more than I expected. Teeth feel safer, yeah, but I also wake up less tense. Still grind sometimes though, so it's not perfect. Worth considering imo.
Have you noticed any difference in jaw soreness or headaches since switching? I've been using a custom guard for about two years now, and while it hasn't completely stopped my grinding either, the improvement in jaw tension was pretty noticeable. Honestly, ignoring grinding long-term can lead to bigger dental issues... cracked teeth, worn enamel, etc. Did your dentist mention anything about adjusting the guard fit if you're still grinding occasionally? Might be worth asking next visit.
"Did your dentist mention anything about adjusting the guard fit if you're still grinding occasionally?"
Mine actually adjusted mine once for free when I mentioned it wasn't quite right. Helped a lot with jaw soreness. Worth asking—could save you money down the road on dental repairs...
