Will a mouthpiece used for football work as well as one made at the dentist for TMJ?

Question

I had a mouthpiece made years ago for TMJ. Recently, my back teeth were hurting and I went to the dentist. He said there were no cavaties nor did I need a root canal. My problem is my TMJ, and the fact that I clench and grind my teeth. He said if my old mouthpiece didn't fit anymore (which it doesn't) then I could have another one made. Will a football mouthpiece work just as well to wear at night?

Answer 1

No. I asked that question of my dentist and doctor when they thought I had TMJ (it was in fact, Trigeminal Neuralgia) and they both said no. The mouth piece is made differently and allows you to breath better in your sleep. A football mouth piece isn't made to wear lying down.

Answer 2

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RE:
Will a mouthpiece used for football work as well as one made at the dentist for TMJ?
I had a mouthpiece made years ago for TMJ. Recently, my back teeth were hurting and I went to the dentist. He said there were no cavaties nor did I need a root canal. My problem is my TMJ, and the fact that I clench and grind my teeth. He said if my old mouthpiece didn't fit anymore (which...

Answer 3

Tmj Mouthpiece

Answer 4

I am afraid the ones saying a football mouthpiece will not work for tmj are very wrong! Every dentist in my area recommend you buy a mouth piece exactly like football players use and try it before you spend all that money on a custom made one cuz alot of times the football mouthpiece will do the trick! I have tmj and just left my dentist and he told me to buy a football mouthpiece that u boil and mold to your teeth and try it to see if helps before i spend $500 on the one he can make me! He said most of his patients dont ever need him to make one after using the football mouthpiece! Every dentist i know recommends the same thing. I have alot of friends with tmj and use to work for a dental lab and know alot of dentist!! Hope this helps!! i know its a late post but mayb someone will come along and find this useful:-)

Answer 5

If you have chronic TMJ then I would not mess around with a football mouthpiece. I just replaced my appliance this year but it is worth it for me. You could buy one of the mouthpieces to try if you really want to and since they are not that expensive you can throw it out. Good luck.

Answer 6

7 years ago I've been involved in a car wreck and even since suffered with severe on and off facial and jaw pain. I've tried almost everything western medicine had to offer and had visited countless of specialist, had done ct scans, and therapies but to no avail. The doctors I have been to had persisted that there wasn't anything wrong with me and that almost drove me crazy as I was going through hell from this condition. According to all my symptoms I was diagnosed by a holistic doctor as having TMJ and he had recommended this book to me. After following the recommendation in the book for several weeks, it had changed my life. I got immediate relief after following the unique set of exercises in the book and after 2 weeks the jaw and face pain had completely gone. I only wish I would have ordered this program years ago. It would have saved me a lot of pain and anguish.

Answer 7

I'm a dentist.

No. They are entirely different devices.

A mouthpiece used for football (and other sports) is intended to distribute impact forces evenly across your teeth and jaw bones (and thus prevent your front teeth from taking all the force and getting knocked out).

An occlusal guard is a very different device. It is meant to modify your bite and to bring about relaxation of your muscles of mastication (i.e. the muscles that cause you to bite down). Its design is very different from that of a sports mouthguard.

The mere fact that they are both made to fit only your teeth does not even remotely give them overlapping purposes.

Answer 8

Yes, quite a few. When Liverpool beat us 4-2 in the CL and when we drew 2-2 with birmingham. I have cried other times but I can't remember when. They are the only ones which spring to mind.

Answer 9

the mouth piece i used from the dentist didn't seem to be as comfortable as i hoped for after time. i purchased one of those Doctor Night Guards that you can buy at most drug stores and some grocery stores.

you just boil the mouth piece in hot water then form it to your teeth and you're good to go. i trimmed it with scissors to make it even more comfortable. Obviously, the box contains all instructions.

it's very comfortable and extremely durable. only around $25.00 too.

Answer 10

Dear Twisted:

unless you are playing football in your dreams, then you will need to stop shoort changing your self and let the dentist give you the proper mouth fixture.