I've got a small hard mouthguard which I have to 'clip' on to my lower teeth at night to prevent grinding and I've now been told that it has damaged my teeth. Has anyone had a similar problem?
2007-10-24 02:36:14 · 14 answers · asked by Lisa 3 in Health ➔ Dental
For those of you who had the guard and it caused damage - what was the damage? I'm just looking for similar cases so I can take this up with my dentist.
2007-10-24 03:53:49 · update #1
You should probably use a plastic/rubber one. I have never used one but a few of my friends have and they say it is great--but the only bad thing is is that spit fills your mouth just a tad so when you wake up your pillow has wet spots from where your mouth is/was.
2007-10-24 02:40:24 · answer #1 · answered by Rachael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Night guards, Mouth guards, should be custom made by a dentist who understands the principles of occlusion. With about 400 pounds per square inch of forces your teeth take a lot of abuse, specially for grinners.
A good night-guard requires impression molds to be taken of your teeth and sent to a lab. There your molds are set up in articulator along with a copy of your bite. Then a hard acrylic plastic is used to create your custom mold. Your dentist will then fit your guard, adjusting it by grinding the guard to dissipate the forces in your mouth. This appointment usually takes 45min to an hour if done properly. Occlusion is a complex matter. Many dental problems can be avoided if more dentist understood the occlusion.
A soft plastic guard defeats the purpose all together because instead of easing the forces your are developing your jaw muscles to be stronger so when you are not wearing the guard you have exercised your jaw to grind even harder… sort of like the BOWFlex machine..
2007-10-24 05:14:39 · answer #2 · answered by Dalanis 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
sounds like either you havn't worn your mouth guard for a while and so your teeth may have moved a bit since you last wore it... therefore it moves your teeth back to where they were when you first got it. Or, your mouth guard is not biting evenly on your opposing teeth and needs to be ground in a little bit to make all your teeth contact it evenly. Other than that, grinding can be made worse with Stress, high fillings, so fix the stress and maybe that will help. Maybe if you chew on a sock :)
2016-04-10 02:16:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have one I sleep with that clips to my top teeth. The only thing I have noticed is a sepration between the teeth on the side I do most of the grinding. I have been using for 2 years now.
2007-10-24 02:41:04 · answer #4 · answered by im_the_mom4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had one of these made a few years ago as I also grind my teeth really badly when I am sleeping. I used it for about a week and then chucked it away - it was hurting the top of my mouth as I was grinding so hard and it was agony to take!! I decided that I would rather grind my teeth away then wear it. I don't know about it damaging your teeth but it does sound possible.
2007-10-24 02:42:27 · answer #5 · answered by claire t 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My dentist made me one and for the first month I was fine then I began to have difficulties putting it in as it seemed to have warped. My dentist tells me it hasn't but I am very dubious at continuing to use it. Apparently you should only need to wear for 3 months then your body would automatically adjust and you won't grind them anymore. The jury is still out on whether I believe that or not!
2007-10-24 02:47:50 · answer #6 · answered by dozyllama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have this problem as well. I use the mouthgaurd when I remember. It does help and keeps my mouth and jaws from being so sore in the morning. I clench and grind my teeth at night.
2007-10-24 02:41:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need a soft guard not hard, a hard one does not help grinding as well, & most dentist that know what they are doing do not perscribe them anymore.
you can acually get a soft guard in the dental isle at drugstore. it's worth a try.
2007-10-24 12:02:08 · answer #8 · answered by jeanniep 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Em,
the fact is that no mouth guard worn at night will stop you from grinding.
why?
these are not designed to stop the habit.
so then what works?
what you need from your dentist is called an N.T.I. bruxism appliance.
why does it work?
it's made specifically so your teeth don't touch while you sleep.
is is comfortable?
yes, see all the links below:
2007-10-24 04:53:27 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My wife suffers mouth ulcers, when they are really bad she uses a boxers gum shield, it's first heated then placed in the mouth and bitten on to mold to the shape of the teeth.
The silicon is soft, so no discomfort.. so she tells me.
2007-10-24 02:56:39 · answer #10 · answered by gelx2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋