Teeth grinding - advised to use a mouth guard?

[Fagin99]

Hi everyone,

I tried a new dentist last night, and they said that there is evidence that I'm teeth grinding (probably at night). They said they could see a bit of damage, but not enough to warrant treatment.

They recommended I wear a mouth guard at night! Call me silly, but I just don't really like the idea of wearing one (it would also cost £100 to make!).

Has anyone else been told that they grind their teeth? Apparently it's quite common. Do you wear a mouth guard? Or have you found anything that helped?

For sure this has been caused by significant, long-term stress over the past few years. Maybe it's time just to start the yoga again!

Thanks all :-)

I wear one. Only tend to wear it when I am stressed (seem to wear it most nights at the moment)

I got it from my NHS dentist but paid for it privately as they told me it was cheaper that way, it was about £100. I am on my second one as I chewed through my first one.

I used to wake up with terrible jaw ache and in fact managed to misalign my jaw which felt really weird. The mouth guard has really helped with that.

I wear a lower jaw one made by my dentist. £62 ish on the NHS. I'm a clencher rather than a grinder and have split several teeth because of this. I have a couple of crowns and an implant and am keen not to have that expense again.

It is a LOT more comfortable that a sports guard one (which I tried several years ago) and a lot less noticeable. I can actually speak with this in!

I have TMJ though not caused by tooth grinding. However that is a leading cause. Google TMJ. It’s AWFUL. Please wear a guard as I’d hate for anyone to suffer that pain unnecessarily.

I fairly recently started wearing a night guard - cost about £90 - my nhs dentist provided it but privately- she said it would cost more on the NHS!

I have noticeable wear on my front teeth and was shocked and fascinated to see the grooves I have worn into the guard by grinding even after only a few weeks of wearing.

The thought of the amount of damage I was doing to my teeth means I’ve been strict with myself about wearing it. I did get TMJ pain after the first couple of nights but it soon eased off.

If your dentist has recommended a night guard I would give it serious consideration OP.