"Cut back from three cups to just one strong one a day and noticed way less jaw tension."
Interesting, never thought coffee could affect clenching. I'm new to mouthguards and still getting used to mine—it's been about four months, and it's holding up okay so far. Hearing your experience makes me hopeful it'll last longer if I watch my caffeine intake. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, caffeine definitely amps up muscle tension—I noticed the same thing when I cut back. Mouthguards can last surprisingly long if you're careful with habits like grinding or clenching. Mine's been going strong for almost two years now, but I had to consciously work on reducing stress and caffeine intake to get there. Stick with it, sounds like you're already on the right track... and honestly, noticing these small details early makes a huge difference down the road.
Interesting point about caffeine—I never really thought about that connection until recently. I used to go through mouthguards like crazy, probably every 6-8 months, because I was grinding so badly. Then one day, a patient mentioned cutting back on coffee helped her jaw tension, and it got me thinking... I tried reducing my own caffeine intake, and surprisingly, my current mouthguard has lasted over a year now. Makes me wonder how many other little habits affect our dental health without us even noticing?
That's actually reassuring to hear, because I've been wondering if my caffeine habit is making my grinding worse. Did you cut back gradually or just go cold turkey? I'm a bit nervous about headaches or withdrawal symptoms if I try reducing coffee... Also, do you think other things like chewing gum or stress-eating crunchy snacks could be affecting it too? Feels like there's always something else to worry about with dental stuff, haha.
I've been wondering about chewing gum too, actually. My dentist mentioned something about it possibly making the jaw muscles tighter, but didn't really go into detail. Has anyone else heard that? I'm also curious if stress-eating crunchy snacks could be a factor—I tend to munch on pretzels or chips when I'm anxious, and now I'm second-guessing that habit too. Honestly, feels like every little thing could be contributing...does anyone know if dentists usually recommend cutting back on crunchy foods for grinding issues?
