For Dentists and Teeth Grinders - Night Guard Question

[Wonders10]

Hi all,

Too make a long story short, I took a short (okay, long) break from the dentist and developed a very huge phobia. After some on and off discomfort, I finally went to the dentist. I had an complete oral exam, x-rays and a cleaning done and all was good. No cavities, nothing. However, I grind my teeth and have done a serious number on my bite (apparently one side hits first and my jaw is super tense - from what he told me. My dentist is a man of few words). I had a night guard made and have been using it for a little over a week. Instantly, I noticed a huge difference - no more headaches, no sore jaw, no achy teeth. It was great! The first couple mornings, my bottom teeth would feel odd and sort of achy, like they would if you had recently had orthodontic work. Dentist said it is normal and it did go away after a couple days. But the last 2-3 days, I'm noticing changes in my top teeth. I was smiling and checking out my teeth last night after brushing them and noticed the space between my top two teeth seems larger (it is still barely a space but they used to be touching and now they don't seem to). They also feel a little bit like they are shifting. I know when I am sleeping my tongue pushes on my front teeth (sometimes bottom, sometimes top), but honestly it is freaking me out. The old, phobic paranoid me doesn't want her teeth to fall out!

So for those of you that have night guards or are in the dental profession, what can you tell me about this? I have another appointment in a week for him to check my bite again and I can always call on Monday but part of me thinks it is just my mouth adjusting to the night guard and my new bite pattern.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

I have had a night guard for about 5 years now and LOVE it. All the problems with my jaw went away also. I was also chipping my teeth since I was grinding so hard at night.

When I first started wearing it at night, my teeth would feel a little sore since I am sure I bite on the guard and this affects the fitting. Now, the guard is perfect (I think I broke it in with my constant grinding ... ) Anyway, I would give it a chance, but if you don't think it is fitting correctly, see your dentist. Perhaps he needs to grind down a part to make it fit correctly.

 

[rhpools]

My husband has been grinding his teeth so long and his bite is so bad our only solution is..........

BRACES

So at 36 years old, to the ortho we go. The worst part this may cut into our Disney budget.

 

[Wonders10]

I love it too! It's very comfortable wearing it, just concernred and confused why the top teeth are bugging me since it's worn on the bottom. Unless it gets really bad I will probably just wait and mention it next week at my follow up appt. It's not constant and its not pain-it feels like pressure? Maybe that's a good way to describe it.

Braces?!?!? Umm I definitely do not want that to happen! Hopefully the night guard does what it's supposed to. My mouth feels better and it's only been a little over a week.