"mine felt like chewing on a hockey puck, lol."
Haha, exactly! I tried one of those DIY kits thinking I'd save some cash... ended up feeling like I'd shoved a tire in my mouth every night. 😅 Eventually bit the bullet (pun intended) and got the dentist-made one. Definitely hurt the wallet at first, but man, waking up without jaw pain or headaches is priceless. Hang in there—it gets better once you find the right fit.
"Definitely hurt the wallet at first, but man, waking up without jaw pain or headaches is priceless."
Yeah, hearing that makes me feel a bit less nervous about getting mine. I've been ignoring my dentist's advice for months because honestly, the thought of sleeping with something in my mouth sounded so uncomfortable... but lately the jaw soreness and headaches are getting worse. Tried one of those cheap boil-and-bite ones—total disaster. Felt like I was trying to sleep with a giant eraser between my teeth, lol. Glad to hear the custom ones actually help once you adjust. Guess it's probably worth pushing past that initial awkwardness if it means no more waking up feeling like I've been clenching my teeth all night. Thanks for sharing your experience; makes me feel a little better about finally taking the plunge.
Totally get the hesitation—I felt the same way at first. Honestly, the custom guard is a whole different ballgame compared to those bulky boil-and-bite things. Mine took about a week or so to really get comfortable, but after that, I barely noticed it. One tip: wear it for short periods during the day at first to ease into the feeling. Made bedtime adjustment way easier for me. Plus, my jaw stopped clicking, which was a nice bonus I didn't expect... Hang in there, it'll be worth it.
Did your jaw clicking stop completely after using the guard, or just get less noticeable? I've been dealing with clicking for ages, and honestly, the thought of wearing something in my mouth all night makes me pretty anxious... Does it really feel natural enough to sleep comfortably? I'm trying to convince myself it's worth it, but still a bit unsure. Glad to hear it worked out well for you though.
I totally get your hesitation... I was pretty anxious about it too at first. Honestly, the guard didn't completely stop my clicking, but it made a huge difference—way less noticeable. Took me a few nights to get used to it, but now I barely notice it's there. Hang in there, it does get easier.