I totally get that—mine always ends up with these weird bite marks and cracks after a few months. I tried a dual-laminate once, thinking it’d be tougher, but honestly, it wore down almost as fast as the regular one. Maybe my jaw just refuses to be tamed...
Yeah, same here—mine looks like it’s been through a blender after a few months. I thought the dual-laminate would be some kind of miracle too, but apparently my bruxism is just determined to chew through anything short of titanium. I’ve even tried those “heavy duty” ones dentists recommend, but they still get those little fractures and indentations. Guess some jaws are just relentless... Or maybe I’m subconsciously auditioning for a jaw strength contest in my sleep?
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think the pricier, dentist-made ones would last forever, but nope—mine usually ends up with cracks or those weird bite marks after 6-8 months. My dentist once joked I might be grinding more than most folks, but I think some of us just have jaws that don’t quit. Tried a hard acrylic one once, but it felt like sleeping with a hockey puck. Honestly, I’ve just accepted I’ll need replacements pretty regularly.
Tried a hard acrylic one once, but it felt like sleeping with a hockey puck.
That made me laugh because I had the exact same reaction to the hard acrylic type. It’s like, sure, maybe it’ll last longer, but at what cost? I couldn’t get used to it either, and I’d wake up halfway through the night just wanting to toss it across the room.
I totally get what you mean about the bite marks and cracks showing up way sooner than expected. I used to feel like I must be doing something wrong, but my dentist said some people just have really strong jaws or grind more intensely. Have you ever tried switching up your cleaning routine? I noticed mine lasted a bit longer when I stopped using hot water to rinse it (apparently that can make the material wear down faster).
It’s kind of a bummer to accept regular replacements, but honestly, the alternative—waking up with jaw pain or chipped teeth—just isn’t worth it. Do you find you sleep better with a softer one, even if it wears out quicker?
It’s like, sure, maybe it’ll last longer, but at what cost? I couldn’t get used to it either, and I’d wake up halfway through the night just wanting to toss it across the room.
I totally relate to this. I remember my first hard acrylic guard—felt like I was clenching down on a chunk of plastic all night. It did last longer, but I never actually slept well with it in. My jaw would ache in the morning, and honestly, it made me dread going to bed.
Switched to a soft one after that and yeah, it doesn’t last as long (mine usually gets chewed through in about 6-8 months), but at least I can actually sleep. The comfort tradeoff is worth it for me. And you’re right about cleaning—hot water definitely seemed to warp mine faster, so now I just use cool water and gentle soap.
It’s always a bit annoying when you see new bite marks after only a few weeks… makes you feel like some kind of mouthguard monster. But better that than cracked teeth or TMJ pain. Still wish there was a perfect option out there that didn’t feel like a science experiment every night.
