Haha, 18 months sounds pretty solid tbh. Mine barely makes it past a year before it looks like my dog chewed it up—probably because I grind like I'm auditioning for a horror movie at night. 😂 But yeah, you're right about minor scratches. I used to panic about them too until my dentist basically said "chill." Guess it's good to know we're all in the same boat with our beat-up mouthguards...
Interesting, mine usually lasts around 2 years, but lately I've noticed it wearing down faster. Makes me wonder, have you talked with your dentist about possibly switching materials? I asked mine recently because I was worried about the grooves and scratches getting deeper. She mentioned that some newer materials can handle heavier grinding better and might last longer without getting so torn up. Could be worth exploring if you're burning through yours that quickly. Also, random thought—have you tried any of those jaw relaxation exercises before bed? I've heard they help reduce grinding intensity, though I admit I'm pretty inconsistent about doing them myself...
"have you tried any of those jaw relaxation exercises before bed?"
I've actually given those a shot, and honestly, they do help when I remember to do them regularly... but consistency isn't exactly my strong suit either, lol. Might look into those tougher materials though—sounds promising.
"they do help when I remember to do them regularly... but consistency isn't exactly my strong suit either, lol."
Honestly, same here. I always mean to stick with the relaxation stuff, but once I get tired, it just slips my mind. As for tougher materials, I switched to a hard acrylic guard after going through two soft ones in less than a year. The difference was night and day—my current one’s held up for almost three years. It’s pricier, but it saves hassle in the long run. If you’re a heavy grinder like me, it might be worth asking about.
“The difference was night and day—my current one’s held up for almost three years. It’s pricier, but it saves hassle in the long run.”
I get the logic behind paying more upfront, but honestly, I just can’t justify the cost of those hard acrylic ones. My insurance barely covers the basics, so I stick with the soft guards from the pharmacy. They only last me 8-10 months before they get chewed up, but at $20 a pop, it still works out cheaper for me (even if it’s a pain to replace). I do wish I could be more consistent with the relaxation exercises too... but yeah, motivation fades fast after a long day.
