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).
Same here—my wallet would cry if I shelled out for the fancy acrylic ones. I’ve gone through so many of those squishy guards that my nightstand drawer looks like a graveyard for mangled mouthguards. The cycle is pretty much: buy new guard, promise myself this one will last, chomp through it by month seven, repeat.
I tried those jaw relaxation exercises too... lasted about three days before I just started zoning out halfway through. Maybe my brain’s just not wired for zen after 9 p.m.
Honestly, as long as the cheap ones keep my teeth from grinding down to nubs, I’m not too bothered by the swap-out hassle. Kinda wish insurance covered more, though. It’s wild how something so basic can get so pricey.
I hear you on the insurance thing—it’s wild how little they’ll cover for something you literally need to keep your teeth intact. Honestly, those soft guards are fine for a lot of folks, but if you’re chewing through them that fast, sometimes it’s a sign your grinding is pretty heavy. I’ve seen people save money in the long run with a custom one, but yeah, upfront cost is no joke. Jaw exercises are tough to stick with... I can barely remember to floss at night, let alone meditate my jaw into submission.
The cost of those custom guards is rough, but I ended up biting the bullet (no pun intended) after going through two store-bought ones in like six months. I was kind of shocked by how fast I chewed through them, honestly. The upfront price stung, but mine’s lasted over two years now and still looks decent—so maybe it worked out cheaper in the end?
I tried the jaw exercises too, but I just couldn’t keep up with them. Some nights I can barely drag myself to brush my teeth, let alone do stretches or whatever. Has anyone actually had luck sticking to those routines? Or maybe found a cheaper brand of custom guard that’s not $400+?
I get what you mean about insurance barely helping. It’s like they don’t care unless your whole mouth falls apart. Still, if you’re burning through guards every few months, maybe the custom one does pay off... even if it doesn’t feel like it at first.
I totally relate to the sticker shock from those custom guards. I remember standing in my dentist’s office, trying to justify dropping that much money on a piece of plastic. But I’d gone through three boil-and-bite ones in a year—one actually split right down the middle while I was sleeping, which was... exciting? Anyway, I finally caved and got a custom one, and honestly, it’s held up way better than I expected. Two and a half years later, and it’s just a little scratched up.
The jaw exercises, though… yeah, I gave up after about a week. I’d watch YouTube videos, get all motivated, then completely forget about them the next night. I don’t know how people keep up with that stuff.
Insurance has been a joke for me too. Mine covered like $50, which felt more like a tip than actual help. I’ve seen some online companies offering custom guards for a bit less (like $150-200), but I’m a little wary since you have to do your own impressions. Anyone had luck with those? The dentist-made ones hurt my wallet, but at least I know they fit.
I totally get your hesitation with those online custom guards. I tried one from a mail-order company last year because my dentist’s price made me wince, and honestly, it worked out better than I expected. The impression kit was a little nerve-wracking (I had to redo it once), but they sent clear instructions and even a video. Fit-wise, it’s not quite as perfect as my old dentist-made one, but for the price difference, I can live with it. Just make sure to take your time with the impression—don’t rush it like I did the first round.
