Totally get what you're saying about silicone feeling a bit bulky at first—I had the same issue when my daughter switched. She complained nonstop for the first few nights, and I almost switched her back to plastic. But after about a week, she didn't even notice it anymore. Now she swears it's way more comfy than the old plastic one ever was. Guess it's kinda like breaking in new shoes... awkward at first but worth it in the end.
"Guess it's kinda like breaking in new shoes... awkward at first but worth it in the end."
That's a great analogy—I experienced something similar when I switched to silicone myself. Initially, the bulkiness felt off-putting, but silicone tends to mold better over time, offering improved comfort and durability compared to plastic. Definitely worth the initial adjustment period.
Totally agree with the shoe analogy, it definitely fits my experience too. When I first got my silicone mouthguard, I was honestly kinda skeptical. The dentist warned me it'd feel different, but those first few nights were rough—I kept waking up feeling like I had a giant gummy bear stuck to my teeth, lol.
But after about a week or so, something clicked. It wasn't just that it molded better (though it definitely did)—it was also less irritating on my gums than the plastic one I'd used before. Plus, weirdly enough, I noticed less drooling at night (sorry if that's TMI). The silicone just seemed to adapt better to my mouth shape and movements.
Still, I'm paranoid about losing mine now after hearing all these stories about vanishing cases... I've started double-checking my bedside table every morning just in case!
"I kept waking up feeling like I had a giant gummy bear stuck to my teeth, lol."
Haha, that's exactly how my daughter described hers at first! Glad to hear it gets better. Did you find any tricks to help ease the adjustment period? We're still in gummy bear territory over here...
My son had a similar experience when he first started using his mouthguard. He described it as sleeping with a melted marshmallow glued to his teeth—so your gummy bear analogy made me chuckle. It took him about two weeks before he really felt comfortable with it. One thing we found helpful was having him wear it for short periods during the day, just to get used to the sensation without the added pressure of trying to fall asleep. It seemed to make the nighttime adjustment a bit smoother.
Also, we noticed that rinsing it with cool water right before bed helped him feel more refreshed and less "sticky." I don't know if it's psychological or actually makes a difference, but he swore by it. Another small tip: keeping the mouthguard case in a consistent spot on his nightstand helped us avoid those mysterious disappearing acts (though we still had a few frantic searches under the bed and behind furniture...).
Hang in there—it definitely gets easier over time. Before you know it, you'll probably find yourself reminding her to take it out in the morning rather than convincing her to put it in at night. Good luck!
