Mouthguard at night, huh? I’ve always wondered if those actually make a difference. I tried one for a week but mostly ended up spitting it out halfway through my sleep—guess I’m not coordinated even when unconscious. I get what you mean about stress, though... My jaw’s basically the world's worst stress ball. Ever tried those warming packs instead? They’re less awkward than a mouthguard, at least for me.
Warming packs are fine for surface tension, but they don’t actually stop you from grinding or clenching in your sleep. If your implant’s bugging you because of pressure or jaw habits, a mouthguard still does more to protect the hardware. I get they’re awkward—took me weeks to stop spitting mine out—but it’s a trade-off.
I had the same problem after my implant—kept waking up with jaw pain because I’d clench without realizing. Warming packs helped a bit with soreness, but honestly, the mouthguard made the biggest difference for protecting the implant itself. Took a while to get used to, and sometimes I’d find it on the floor in the morning... but now I barely notice it. If it still feels off after a few weeks, your dentist might need to check the fit or adjust your bite. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
Can totally relate to the mouthguard struggles... mine would end up under my pillow or halfway across the room at first. What actually helped me was easing into it—like, I’d wear it for an hour or two before bed, just to get used to the feeling. Also, I found that switching to a softer guard made a difference. If you’re still sore after a bit, yeah, sometimes it’s just a tiny adjustment that fixes everything. It’s wild how sensitive our jaws can be.
If you’re still sore after a bit, yeah, sometimes it’s just a tiny adjustment that fixes everything.
I keep wondering if it’s the same with implants as it is with mouthguards? I’m new to all of this and honestly, the idea of something in my mouth long-term kinda freaks me out. My jaw gets sore super fast—like even after wearing a retainer for a night, I wake up feeling like I’ve been chewing gum for hours.
If my implant kept bugging me, I’d probably obsess over every weird sensation. Is it normal for it to feel odd for weeks? Or does it just mean something’s wrong? I get anxious about stuff shifting around or not healing right.
I like the idea of “easing into it,” but obviously can’t take an implant out like a guard. Maybe ice packs or softer foods help? I guess I’d call my dentist way too much, just to make sure nothing’s off. Anyone else get nervous about every little ache or is that just me?