Is it just me, or do those night guards always feel way bulkier than they should? I’ve tried the dentist one and a couple boil-and-bite types, and I swear I wake up feeling like I’ve been chewing on a shoe. Anyone else have this problem, or is my mouth just weirdly small?
I totally get what you mean. I just got my first night guard a couple weeks ago, and it feels massive. Is it normal for your jaw to ache a bit at first? I keep wondering if it’s supposed to fit this way or if I messed up the mold.
My kid just started wearing one for teeth grinding, and honestly, it looked huge to me too. The dentist said a little soreness at first can be normal, especially if you’re not used to having anything in your mouth overnight. But when my daughter complained her jaw was actually aching most mornings, I started second-guessing the fit. Did your dentist check the guard after you got it? Ours had us come back a week later for a quick adjustment—turns out it was just a bit too tight on one side.
I wonder if it’s just the bulkiness or if the mold sometimes shifts when you do it at home. We did an at-home kit and I kept worrying we didn’t press down enough or something. Did you do yours at the dentist or with a DIY kit? I’ve heard both can work but maybe the pro ones are less likely to cause that sore jaw feeling?
I wonder if it’s just the bulkiness or if the mold sometimes shifts when you do it at home.
I’ve tried both types—DIY kit first, then got one made at the dentist after I kept waking up with jaw pain. The at-home one felt way thicker and didn’t sit right on my teeth. Even after following the instructions, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d messed up the molding somehow.
The dentist-made guard was noticeably thinner and fit a lot better. Still took a few nights to get used to, but no more aching jaw in the morning. They did check mine a week later too, just like you mentioned, and shaved off a tiny bit where it was pressing too hard.
I think some soreness is pretty normal at first, but constant jaw pain probably means the fit’s off. The pro ones are pricey, but for me it was worth not having that sore feeling every day. Guess the trade-off is comfort vs. cost... but yeah, even the best ones still feel like a mouthful of plastic at first.
That’s been my experience too—the dentist-made one is definitely less bulky, but it still takes a while before it stops feeling awkward. I remember thinking mine was never going to feel normal, but after a week or so my mouth just sort of got used to it. The cost made me hesitate, but waking up without headaches was a huge relief. I guess there’s just no way to make a chunk of plastic feel totally invisible, but the right fit really does help.
