Grinding teeth at night...what if you ignored it?

My dentist actually warned me about that. She said the cheaper guards can help short-term, but they're usually softer and wear down quicker, so you might still get tooth damage if you're a heavy grinder. Did she mention anything about custom-fit guards? They're pricier, but apparently they last longer and protect your teeth better in the long run. I'm considering getting one myself...but I'm still not sure if they're worth the cost.

I've had both types actually, and honestly, I'm not totally convinced custom-fit ones are always worth the extra money. Sure, they're more durable and probably better if you're a serious grinder, but the cheaper ones can work fine for moderate grinding too. I had a custom guard once - paid quite a bit for it - but ended up losing it during a trip. After that, I grabbed one of the decent-quality drugstore versions as a temporary fix...and ended up sticking with it because it worked fine for me.

One thing to keep in mind is comfort - some people find the custom ones way more comfortable, others don't notice much difference. If you're hesitant about the cost, maybe try a mid-range option first, see if it helps. You can always upgrade later if you feel like you're still grinding heavily or going through guards too quickly.

I ignored my grinding for years, thinking it was no big deal...until one morning I woke up with a chipped tooth. Dentist gave me that "I told you so" look (you know the one). Tried a custom guard first - felt like sleeping with a hockey puck in my mouth. Switched to a cheaper drugstore one, and weirdly enough, it felt way better. Guess my teeth have cheap taste, lol. Anyway, ignoring it definitely wasn't worth the dental bill later.

I totally get where you're coming from with the custom guard feeling like a hockey puck. Had a similar experience myself. My dentist insisted on a custom-made one, and I figured, "Hey, it's expensive, must be good, right?" Nope. Felt like I was trying to sleep with a mouthful of Legos. I toughed it out for a week or two, but eventually gave up because I was waking up more exhausted than before.

Funny enough, I also ended up grabbing one of those cheaper drugstore guards out of desperation. It wasn't perfect, but it was way more comfortable. My dentist wasn't thrilled when I told him, but he admitted that comfort matters more than price tag sometimes. He did warn me though that the cheaper ones might not always protect as well long-term, especially if your grinding is severe.

Anyway, your chipped tooth story hits home. I ignored my grinding for years too, thinking it was just stress or something temporary. Then one day, I woke up with jaw pain so intense I could barely open my mouth wide enough to eat breakfast. Turns out I'd developed TMJ issues from all the grinding. Now I'm stuck dealing with jaw exercises and physical therapy appointments - definitely not how I imagined spending my free time.

You're right though, ignoring it definitely isn't worth the hassle (or the dental bills). Glad you found something that works better for you. Teeth can be weirdly picky, can't they?

Totally relate to the Lego-mouth feeling, haha. But honestly, my custom guard was a lifesaver - drugstore ones kept slipping around and drove me nuts. Guess it's just trial and error till you find your Goldilocks guard... teeth are weirdly picky indeed.

I've had similar frustrations with drugstore guards - they never quite fit right and always felt bulky. Eventually, I found a decent boil-and-bite option online that didn't break the bank. It's not perfect, but it stays put and does the job. Curious though, has anyone noticed their grinding getting better or worse depending on stress levels or lifestyle changes? I've noticed mine fluctuates quite a bit...

"Curious though, has anyone noticed their grinding getting better or worse depending on stress levels or lifestyle changes?"

Definitely noticed this myself. When I was still working full-time, my dentist pointed out how worn my teeth had become - stress was through the roof. After retirement, things improved dramatically...until grandkids visits ramped up, anyway.

I've definitely noticed stress playing a big role too. A few years back, I went through a rough patch at work and my dentist gently pointed out that my teeth were showing signs of grinding. Once things settled down, it eased up quite a bit. Interesting you mentioned retirement though:

"After retirement, things improved dramatically...until grandkids visits ramped up, anyway."

Makes me wonder if certain life stages naturally trigger more grinding than others...maybe it's not just stress but also excitement or anticipation?

I've been wondering about this too...my daughter is only 8 and already grinding her teeth at night. Dentist mentioned stress, but honestly, how stressed can an 8-year-old be? Maybe excitement or anticipation really does play a role like you said:

"maybe it's not just stress but also excitement or anticipation?"

Now I'm thinking about it, she does grind more before big events like birthdays or vacations. Anyone else notice this with their kids? Or am I just overthinking it (again)?

My son started grinding his teeth around age 7, and I noticed the same pattern - definitely more intense before holidays or special events. I used to think, "how stressed can a kid really be?" but then realized stress doesn't always mean negative stuff. Like you said:

"she does grind more before big events like birthdays or vacations."

Seems excitement or anticipation really can trigger it. Our dentist recommended a mouthguard, and honestly, it's helped a lot. You're not overthinking it - just being a good parent noticing these things.

Totally agree with you on the excitement factor. My daughter went through a similar phase around 8 or 9, and at first, I brushed it off thinking she'd just grow out of it. But then our dentist explained that even mild grinding can eventually wear down enamel or cause jaw discomfort. Honestly, I was hesitant about the mouthguard at first - mostly because of the cost - but we found a pretty affordable one online that you mold yourself at home. It wasn't fancy, but it did the trick and saved us from pricier dental work later on.

Also, something else that helped was creating a calming bedtime routine before big events. Nothing complicated - just reading together or listening to some quiet music seemed to ease her anticipation a bit. Kids definitely pick up on excitement and stress more than we realize sometimes... Glad you're paying attention and taking action early; it'll save headaches (literally!) down the road.

We went through something similar with my son around age 7. At first, I thought it was just a phase too, but after a few months he started complaining about headaches in the morning. Our dentist mentioned the same thing - enamel wear and jaw tension. We tried the DIY mouthguard route as well, and honestly, it worked better than I expected. Also, totally agree on the bedtime routine...we found that limiting screen time before bed made a noticeable difference in reducing his grinding. Glad you caught it early, definitely worth addressing sooner rather than later.

We had similar issues, but honestly, the DIY mouthguard didn't really cut it for us. It kept slipping out, and my daughter complained it was uncomfortable. Ended up getting a custom one from the dentist - bit pricier, but headaches stopped almost immediately. Guess mileage varies...

Yeah, same experience here. Tried a couple of DIY ones - just couldn't get a comfy fit and woke up with jaw soreness anyway. Dentist-made guard made a huge difference, though it did take a few nights to get used to sleeping with it...worth it overall.

Did your dentist guard help with headaches too, or just jaw soreness? My daughter grinds her teeth pretty badly, and we've tried a couple of store-bought guards - total fail, lol. She complains they're uncomfortable and spits them out halfway through the night anyway. Wondering if it's worth going the dentist route...sounds like it might be. Did insurance cover yours, or was it out-of-pocket?

We went the dentist route after similar frustrations with store-bought guards. My son found the custom guard much more comfortable, and surprisingly, his morning headaches improved noticeably too. Insurance covered part of ours, but it varies - definitely worth checking out though.

"Insurance covered part of ours, but it varies - definitely worth checking out though."

You're lucky your insurance pitched in! Mine didn't cover much, so I hesitated for ages...but honestly, biting the bullet (pun intended 😅) on a custom guard made a huge difference. No more jaw pain waking me up at 3am. Worth every penny imo.

"biting the bullet (pun intended 😅) on a custom guard made a huge difference."

Glad you decided to go for it - I had a similar experience. My insurance didn't help much either, so I was hesitant at first too. But honestly, investing in the custom guard was one of my best decisions. It took a few nights to get used to, but now I sleep soundly and wake up without that awful tension. Definitely worth it in the long run...hang in there!

It's reassuring to hear others had similar experiences. I also hesitated initially, thinking it was just another unnecessary expense. But after finally getting the custom guard, the relief was noticeable almost immediately. Like you said, "

Definitely worth it in the long run...hang in there!

Did your dentist mention anything about long-term damage if you ignored it? We were told that leaving it untreated could lead to enamel wear or even jaw issues down the road. Honestly, I was skeptical at first too - felt like another thing to worry about - but seeing my kid sleep better and wake up without headaches made it clear we made the right call. Glad you're noticing improvements already...makes a huge difference, doesn't it?