"It felt bulky and awkward, and I ended up chewing through it in about two months."
Interesting, maybe it depends on the brand? My kid's been using a DIY one for about 6 months now, and it's holding up pretty well. Did you try trimming it down after molding? That helped ours feel less bulky...
I've definitely noticed differences between brands too. My dentist-made one lasted me about two years, but the DIY ones I tried before wore out way faster—maybe 3-4 months tops. Trimming after molding helped me a bit with comfort, but durability was still an issue. Did you notice your kid's DIY mouthguard getting discolored or cloudy after a while? Mine always did, even though I cleaned it regularly. Maybe saliva acidity or something affects how quickly they wear down...
I've noticed the same discoloration issue with DIY mouthguards. Mine usually started turning cloudy after just a month or two, even with regular cleaning. I think saliva acidity might play a role, but I've also wondered if it's related to the material quality itself. The dentist-made guard I've been using now is going strong at about 18 months without any noticeable discoloration or cloudiness—just some minor wear marks from grinding. Trimming definitely helped comfort-wise for the DIY ones, but durability was always disappointing. Also, DIY guards seemed to lose their snug fit pretty quickly, which probably contributed to faster wear. Maybe the looser fit allows more saliva and bacteria to build up underneath? Just a thought...
I've had similar experiences with DIY guards—mine got cloudy pretty fast too, even though I cleaned them religiously. Honestly, I worried it was something I was doing wrong, but your saliva acidity theory makes sense. Switching to a dentist-made guard eased my anxiety a lot; it's held up way better and stayed clear. Glad yours is lasting well too... definitely reassuring to hear someone else had the same issues!
Glad to hear the dentist-made guard worked out for you—I totally get the anxiety around DIY ones. Mine always clouded up too, even with obsessive cleaning. I figured it was just cheap materials rather than saliva acidity, but who knows... maybe it's both? I've been hesitant to splurge on a dentist-made one, but hearing your experience makes me think it might actually save money in the long run. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet eventually, haha.
