I was pretty anxious about the molding part too, kept thinking I'd gag or something. But honestly, it wasn't as bad as I imagined—just weirdly squishy and cold. The guard itself took some getting used to, but now I can't sleep without it. Funny how quickly you adapt.
"Mine even helped reduce morning headaches—didn't realize how much tension grinding caused until it stopped."
That's interesting...I've been waking up with jaw soreness lately, wondering if that's related? Did anyone else notice other symptoms improve after using a night guard?
Jaw soreness was definitely a big one for me too. I used to joke that my jaw felt like I'd been chewing gum all night, lol. After getting the guard, that achy feeling pretty much disappeared. Plus, weirdly enough, my sleep quality improved overall—guess I wasn't waking myself up grinding anymore? If you're on the fence, I'd say it's worth a try...just shop around a bit because some dentists charge crazy prices for them.
Glad you mentioned shopping around—prices can be wild. Did you notice less tension headaches too, or mostly just jaw relief? Either way, sounds like it made a huge difference for you...definitely worth giving it a shot.
I've been wondering about the headache thing too. For me, the jaw pain is obvious, but headaches are trickier to pin down. Sometimes I wake up feeling foggy or achy, but it's hard to tell if that's from grinding or just lousy sleep in general. Did you notice a clear difference in your sleep quality after getting the guard? I'm tempted to try one, but honestly, the prices I've seen make me hesitate. I've heard some people mention cheaper over-the-counter options—anyone had luck with those, or is it really worth shelling out for the custom fit?
I totally get your hesitation about the cost—I was in the same boat. Tried one of those cheaper drugstore guards first, and honestly, it wasn't great. Felt bulky and weird, and I ended up spitting it out halfway through the night. Eventually bit the bullet for a custom one from my dentist (ouch, wallet), but the difference was pretty noticeable. Less jaw ache in the morning, and I think my sleep improved too—less tossing around. Might be worth trying the cheaper option first though... everyone's different.
