Dental mouthguard for teeth clenching

ripplyuk

After explaining to my dentist about my regular headaches, he says I might be clenching my teeth at times, though he insists I'm not grinding them or causing any damage. He suggested a mouthguard to wear at night which I agreed to. However, now I'm unsure if it has been a waste of money.

When I close my mouth, or even just relax it, my jaw has to twist out to one side as otherwise all the pressure would be just on two teeth. Also, it pushes on my front teeth and they're now becoming really sensitive. I'm also worried that they'll start sticking out. When I wake up, my jaw is aching and it's taking longer and longer to settle down each day.

Is this normal when using a mouthguard? My dentist did do an impression before he ordered it but no other checks after that. I've spoken to him and he says to leave it for 6 weeks to let it settle and then he will check it again. I'm just not sure if it's a good idea to keep wearing it since it is giving me problems that I've never had.

I've been thinking that maybe this brand just doesn't suit me and it might be worth trying another. It says 'Proform' on it. Can anyone recommend a different one that is more comfortable and reasonably priced?

brook2jack

You need to see, speak to your dentist. We cannot see you or your teeth.

All mouth guards are custom made, the brand is just the plastic and machine that is used to make the mouth guard , there is no difference between different "brands" of mouth guards, but there can be differences in design and adjustments.

You need to return to the dentist who can see you.

ripplyuk

I can't see him again until 6 weeks from now. They said that unless it's a emergency, they can't see me earlier. They're always really busy. I don't want these problems to keep getting worse so I was hoping to find a cheaper alternative as I can't afford to get another one made from my dentist.

I was thinking that one of the mouth guards you mould at home with hot water might be better because then I could make sure it fits.

I feel a bit ripped off because I thought paying for a lab made one would be a good fit but it's awful. Am I missing something, Maybe it's meant to hurt so that you eventually learn to keep your mouth open at night, to prevent clenching?

brook2jack

Home made boil in the bag almost always make things worse as the fit and bite are never as good as custom made.

If your present guard is not right it may need adjusting , but if there is a problem with fit it should not cost you anything if it needs to be remade.

If it's that sore ring up the surgery and ask if it's alright to leave it out until your appointment.

ripplyuk

brook2jack wrote: »

Home made boil in the bag almost always make things worse as the fit and bite are never as good as custom made.

Thanks, I don't think I'll bother with them then. Can't imagine having something worse than this!

I think the problem is that although it fits my lower teeth, no account is made for the way my top teeth 'fit' on them. My dentist says no adjustments are necessary with lab made ones as they are a perfect fit but I disagree now.

When I ring the practice about it, they say I'll have to wait until my appointment to find out if it's ok to stop wearing it or not, because they don't know and the dentist is too busy to speak to. There's no way I'll be able to put up with it until then so I think I'll just stop using it for now.

jenniewb

I have a mouth guard, I have been told I grind my teeth- I don't get headaches but do find myself locking my jaw at times on the day when I am stressed, however grinding my teeth I am not so sure!


My dentist was concerned at the rate my teeth were wearing down due to what was decided upon as grinding and got a mouth guard fitted. It was done via a mould and fitted after it was ready, it did originally push on my teeth- I don't find that the case now, but doesn't at all cause any pain and does seem to fit adequately.


I would speak to your dentist to see if you can get an earlier appointment; I don't know what it's like to have a headache due to grinding your teeth as it's not something I've experienced, but if you are in pain if you wear the guard and in pain when you don't it is a pretty miserable existence!


I was always under the impression you pay for your treatment once and if anything goes wrong with that treatment within a certain window of time, any follow-ups to rectify the problem are done so free of charge so if it's money that is putting you off, please don't worry about this.

Toothsmith

ripplyuk wrote: »

When I ring the practice about it, they say I'll have to wait until my appointment to find out if it's ok to stop wearing it or not, because they don't know and the dentist is too busy to speak to. There's no way I'll be able to put up with it until then so I think I'll just stop using it for now.

This is very poor customer service.

I would be a bit more insistent with them, or look around for somewhere else. They have a responsibility to follow up treatments they provide, especially if patients are experiencing problems.

Nagme

I also clench my teeth - my dentist taught me a movement that she said would help (and much to my surprise it does);-

Move your jaw out, down and "roll" it back in so that your lower jaw now sits as far "in" as it can. Repeat whenever you notice you're clenching.

She never mentioned a mouth guard.

HTH

jenniewb

Nagme wrote: »

I also clench my teeth - my dentist taught me a movement that she said would help (and much to my surprise it does);-

Move your jaw out, down and "roll" it back in so that your lower jaw now sits as far "in" as it can. Repeat whenever you notice you're clenching.

She never mentioned a mouth guard.

HTH

I think the problem is that many of us grind our teeth in our sleep I think that this is great advice though if you do notice your walking around and doing the same, I've never noticed myself doing this but have noticed by jaw clenching -normally when I am stressed but it's normally because just about every other muscle in my body has tensed up also!
I think the tell-tale sign I notice more than anything else is my tongue feeling as if it is burning because I have plastered it to the roof of my mouth!
One of the first things a Yoga teacher used to say to us whilst we were in corpse pose (flat out on the floor) as "unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth, you'd be suprized at how often you may find yourself doing this if you look out for it now!