Help! Can't wear dental mouth guard

[MiniMum97]

I am a clencher. After a long time of this I eventually bought a mouth guard fitted by my dentist at great cost but I can't wear it as it makes my teeth ache especially the teeth at the front. I've been back to my dentist who says it fits well and they can't see a problem with it.

Is there any way I can soften it? Not sure that will help or not. Any tips? Will wearing it for say half an hour at a time in the day make it soften up and then I'll be able to wear it at night.

I don't want to damage my teeth and gums by my night clenching. I also get very stiff and painful face, neck and shoulder pain from it. Plus it may be contributing to my sore gums/burning mouth syndrome so a fix would be amazing.

I suffered with mine a bit. Eventually my dentist made me a soft jelly one that is meant to be used with bleaching treatments. It’s much less bulky and cheaper. Also suggest if, for example, it’s your top teeth that hurt wearing it get it made for your bottom teeth instead.

Oh ok that's interesting thank you. Did you have to pay again?

The one I have is for the bottom teeth.

A soft jelly one sounds much better. I wonder why they don't give you those in the first place?

I have atypical facial pain and found the original gum shield caused more problems because I was grinding against a hard surface rather than a softer one. My dentist was trying to come up with a solution for so I think it was an experiment to try it. Although I still get painful flare ups it has made a big difference, along with medication and pain management. I did have to pay for it again but it was cheaper, depending on which dentist you go with! Between £75-150 that was 3 years ago though.

It’s lasted 3 years which considering it’s only designed for occasional use for bleaching teeth, it’s pretty good!

@SinisterBumFacedCat thank you that's so helpful.

No worries! I hope you get it all sorted soon

I found this worked better than the hard one I got from my dentist.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLUE-MOUTH-GUARD-GUM-SHIELD-TRAY-FOR-BRUXISM-TEETH-GRINDING-FAST-DELIVER-W5E/233682686464?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I have TineToSleep one from Amazon and other places. Aboit £15.

You can put it in hot water to soften it.

If you can cope with the cheesiness, these massage techniques help.

I don’t wear the guard every night anymore.

I run mine under the hot/warm tap to soften a bit before I put it in.
It’s taken me a year or so to manage a full night in it!
The pain is awful if I don’t wear it so think subconsciously that’s helped me not to take it out in my sleep.

I think I’m going to have to go back to the dentist as my clenching has got worse
Am sure mine is stress, bloody pandemic

@MiniMum97, how are you getting on with your mouth guard? Has it got better after wearing it for a while?

I'm having the same problems with achy front teeth. I've been wearing it for two nights but when I took it out the next morning, two of my front teeth ache.

[quote Nets888]@MiniMum97, how are you getting on with your mouth guard? Has it got better after wearing it for a while?

I'm having the same problems with achy front teeth. I've been wearing it for two nights but when I took it out the next morning, two of my front teeth ache.[/quote]
I find running the guard under hot water before wearing helps soften it and it's more comfortable. But my front teeth still ache every morning after I take it off.

I tend to wear it one or two nights now and take a nights break.

@RavingAnnie, is yours a soft or hard mouthguard? How long have you been wearing it?

[quote Nets888]@RavingAnnie, is yours a soft or hard mouthguard? How long have you been wearing it?[/quote]
Quite a while now - consistently for about 4 months I think (since my post above)?

I went back to the dentist and she said to wear it for as long as could each night then take it out when it became too uncomfortable, which I did and I was able to wear it all night within a couple of weeks. The hot water definitely helps.

I think my dentist said it's a soft one - it's reasonably malleable, not stiff, but I don't have another one to compare to. It's NOT a bleaching guard which others have talked about being even softer.

@RavingAnnie, I wonder why only the front teeth are aching? Do you think it's from the pressure as the mouth guard is tight fitting?

[quote Nets888]@RavingAnnie, I wonder why only the front teeth are aching? Do you think it's from the pressure as the mouth guard is tight fitting?[/quote]
I don't know but the front of the guard seems to push on the front teeth slightly when it's on.

I gave up with mine because it gave me migraines. I’d encourage you to persevere though so you don’t end up like me, late 50s, teeth full of cracks and breaking up, the back ones at the top are being gradually replaced with crowns because of it.