Totally get what you mean about the weird soreness at first—mine felt like chewing on a flip-flop for the first week. But yeah, cracked teeth are no joke... I had a tiny chip from grinding and fixing it was not cheap. Did anyone else notice their bite feeling a bit off when they started with a guard, or is that just me being dramatic?
That bite feeling is actually really common when you first start wearing a night guard—your jaw’s just getting used to the new position. I see it a lot, and honestly, most people adjust after a week or two. I’ve had patients say it feels like their teeth don’t quite line up in the morning, but it usually fades after a bit. The soreness is normal too, especially if you’re not used to having something in your mouth overnight. If it keeps feeling off after a couple weeks though, sometimes the guard needs a tweak.
Honestly, ignoring nighttime grinding is kind of playing with fire—been there, done that, regretted it. I thought I could just tough it out, but my teeth started getting these little chips and my jaw ached in the morning. It’s wild how something you barely notice while sleeping can mess with your bite or even crack a tooth over time. Night guards feel weird at first (mine felt like a mouthful of plastic), but it’s way better than dealing with broken teeth later on. If the bite feels off for too long, though, definitely worth getting it checked... sometimes they just need a tiny adjustment, not a full redo.
Yeah, I tried to ignore my grinding for ages, mostly because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle (or the cost) of a night guard. Didn’t take long before I noticed my front teeth looked a little uneven—like, one was actually shorter than the other. At first I thought I was imagining it, but nope. Dentist confirmed it was from grinding.
Did your night guard make your jaw sore at first? Mine took a couple weeks to get used to, and sometimes I woke up feeling like my bite was off. Is that normal? I kept wondering if I was wearing it wrong or if it was just my jaw being stubborn. Also, have you ever had one crack? I managed to bite through mine after about a year (didn’t even know that was possible, but apparently I’m a champion grinder).
I get what you mean about the “mouthful of plastic” feeling, though. It’s not exactly glamorous, but I’d rather look silly at night than pay for crowns later.
Also, have you ever had one crack?
Yeah, I totally relate to the “mouthful of plastic” thing. At first, my jaw was sore too—felt like my bite was off in the mornings, which freaked me out a little. But my dentist said it’s pretty normal while your jaw gets used to the new position. Honestly, I’d rather deal with a bit of soreness than grind my teeth down to nubs. And yeah, I’ve cracked two night guards over the years. Apparently, they’re not invincible if you’re a hardcore grinder. Still way cheaper than fixing broken teeth, though.
