Recommendations for night time gum shield

Poppy9

OH has one from the dentist, not custom made, but he doesn't find it very comfortable. Dentist told him to try a few others before investing in a custom made one as they are expensive.

OH grinds his teeth at night.

One that stopped his snoring too would be a bonus!:D

Saturnalia

I got one a few weeks ago called a SleepRight. It's a bit different to the usual mouth guards, this one has a soft plastic band that fits around your bottom front teeth and a pad on each end which goes between your top & bottom back teeth. And a piece on each end which goes between your teeth & cheeks to hold it in place.

I'm finding it comfortable, there's nothing to rub my gums sore like the dentist-made ones tend to, and I don't seem to spit it out anywhere near as much as the other type.

Toothsmith

I'm really surprised his dentist sold him an 'off the peg' one. Even more surprised he then recommended him to 'try others'.

A simple custom made soft night bite guard isn't that expensive to supply, and is way superior to any 'boil in the bag' fitted one. I would never recommend anyone even contemplate anything that wasn't custom-made for dealing with tooth grinding.

Some of the hard appliances are quite expensive, but I often find that the simpler soft ones are perfectly good for the simple cases.

lostinrates

Toothsmith wrote: »

I'm really surprised his dentist sold him an 'off the peg' one. Even more surprised he then recommended him to 'try others'.

A simple custom made soft night bite guard isn't that expensive to supply, and is way superior to any 'boil in the bag' fitted one. I would never recommend anyone even contemplate anything that wasn't custom-made for dealing with tooth grinding.

Some of the hard appliances are quite expensive, but I often find that the simpler soft ones are perfectly good for the simple cases.

Dh also uses a 'boil in the bag one' finding it more comfortable than either of his two custom ones, and longer lasting, and thinner and much cheaper. I think I read a post of yours years ago that said they can make the bruxism worse which has worried me ever since. He can get six or eight boil in the bag ones for a price of the custom ones, and they last longer....so from a purely mse cheap angle the custom has to be doing a vastly superior job.


What would show its doing that superior job? Teeth are so important I'd like dh to reconsider if its so important.

brook2jack

I would be worried about an off the shelf snoring device on several points, the main being a snoring device works by posturing your jaw forward, the design means that most people who wear them will find their lower front teeth will move as the device often acts like a brace. Also anyone who snores should be assessed for sleep apnoea first as sleep apnoea can have serious consequences.

lostinrates your husband should tell his dentist and ask them. The dentist will be able to see damage on teeth and fillings and check the health of the jaw joint. However the fact he is going through alot of gum shields does make me think it's merely acting as an aide to his bruxing. But his dentist who can see and examine him can tell.

lostinrates

brook2jack wrote: »

lostinrates your husband should tell his dentist and ask them. The dentist will be able to see damage on teeth and fillings and check the health of the jaw joint. However the fact he is going through alot of gum shields does make me think it's merely acting as an aide to his bruxing. But his dentist who can see and examine him can tell.

He has no fillings. He does have obvious tooth wear tooth wear. His dentist shrugs and says that's what grinding does...wear the guard. ( his actual words when dh asked was there anything he could do to reduce or stop were 'once a grinder always a grinder') he goes through fewer of the boil in the bag guards so by the logic of going through them less is good they sound better? (He buys in bulk because his preferred brand are Italian and he buys when there and many years worth at a time! He also has several on the go, one here, one at other house, one in office for sleeping there......)

Toothsmith

If he found the custom made ones uncomfortable, then he should go back and get them adjusted.

'custom made' will mean that they are a tighter, closer fit - and this can sometimes lead to them rubbing a bit initially, but with a few adjustments and a bit of judicious use of a grinding stone, it should make it feel far more comfortable than anything 'off the shelf'

It does sound a bit like your dentist isn't really as bothered as he/she should be by the things going on in his mouth.

lostinrates

Toothsmith wrote: »

If he found the custom made ones uncomfortable, then he should go back and get them adjusted.

'custom made' will mean that they are a tighter, closer fit - and this can sometimes lead to them rubbing a bit initially, but with a few adjustments and a bit of judicious use of a grinding stone, it should make it feel far more comfortable than anything 'off the shelf'

It does sound a bit like your dentist isn't really as bothered as he/she should be by the things going on in his mouth.

This dentist he has seen on and off most of his adult life, but he has moved a lot for work and seen others....most have said much the same...just you cannot do anything, wear a shield. The custom ones were rubbing gums but also he feels they push at his teeth uncomfortably causing tooth pain, and the break so comparatively quickly. All of them that he has had he has felt this with, which is why when he had to use a boil in the bag on a business trip and found it so Much more comfortable he was so very smitten.

Is there something he could be doing to reduce bruxism? I am sure I read somewhere, maybe one of you 'mse dentists' taking about metal bruxism shields being better and the more one ground the more ones muscles were inclined to grind...or something.

brook2jack

Bruxing is a vicious circle yes the more you grind the more you will continue to.

There is a school of thought that once you eliminate problems with the bite then most bruxing is not dentally related but lifestyle related. People brux more at times of stress , when they are in pain, when they are on certain medications etc and addressing these problems will make bruxing better.

Chrome cobalt (metal) gum shields are gold standard treatment for severe grinders but are very demanding to make (most dentists would refer you) and have a very high price (I would have to guess £400 ish).

A gum shield is really only addresses the symptoms of bruxing and if there are no dental reasons for it the main cure is a less stressful lifestyle!

xMonsoonx

My dentist (private) did one for £50 for me, its a perfect fit and very comfortable - I forget I'm wearing it sometimes :eek: