OK, random question: I apparently clench my teeth at night (I don't grind, just...clench). I got a nightguard from the dentist, which is supposed to not STOP me from doing it, but at least prevent the teeth from cracking under the pressure.

But when I wear it, I swear I feel like I do more clenching than when I don't! I'm more likely to wake up with sore teeth and aching jaw. So, is it worth wearing to help my teeth, or should I not wear it and maybe not clench AS much?

Me & the little guy

That's a great picture!

Bartleby waaay close up

I *love* those nose-first close-up shots! LOVE. (Kato with snow on his snout. [The snow is the sparkles.])

My dentist and hygienist will say that it's better to wear the guard. In fact, I think it's what they are going to tell me tomorrow at my appt. That I just need to get used to it. Grrr, hate when my mouth hurts. BUT! I am going to ask for tricks or hints to make it easier to adjust and if I get some, I will share. Because I don't grind either, but I clench.

I can't wear any kind of mouth guard; I take them out in my sleep. My doctor gave me a mild tranq to ease the clenching. Seemed to work. I don't think I do it anymore.

de-lurk

meara - is the guard soft or rigid? I just got a mouth guard for grinding - I was having low grade headaches and then high grade toothache. My dentist was telling me to stay away from the soft mouth guards you can buy in the store (cause it was going to take a few weeks to get the custom one) because they actually increase the jaw's impulse to bite down and grind - there's something to grab onto. Whereas the rigid one is very smooth and there's nothing to work, so there's less actual grinding.

I'm wondering if you got a soft one, if something like that could be happening?

I *love* those nose-first close-up shots!

Me too!

Kato is so sweet and what a snoot! It reminds me of a loldog photo captioned "This is my kizzy face...kizz it!"

Give that snoot a smooch for me.

We still have the A/C going here.

Man, I love me some New Orleans weather. YES EVEN THE SUMMER.

I just got a mouth guard for grinding - I was having low grade headaches and then high grade toothache.

Dang. I've been having headaches that coincide with inexplicable toothache. My dentist has checked and x-rayed the suspect teeth several times (including x-rays from angles other than the normal angles), and there are no pockets of decay or root canal issues or even fillings that fell out. So my dentist told me it looks like I'm grinding my teeth and that I should get a mouth guard.

I was hoping she was wrong. (Given that the toothaches and headaches haven't subsided, I was thinking she was right anyway. But still.)

She recommended I try one of the guards you can buy in the drugstore, and see if it helps. I keep putting it off, because I think I'll just spit it out while I'm asleep. And now that you say the soft ones can cause more grinding, I'm definitely dubious.

Hmmm.

Whereas the rigid one is very smooth and there's nothing to work, so there's less actual grinding.

I'm not putting anything rigid in my mouth.

Go on, go on, I did that just for you.

I've used a night guard for years. I get splitting headaches when I don't. Sometimes I feel like I clench harder, but most of the time it retards that. I've got a custom-made one which is soft but is made to fit my teeth EXACTLY.

Once on an extended trip, I forgot my night guard. I went and bought a plastic Chore Boy scrubber and put that in my mouth. I felt utterly ridiculous, but it was easy to breath through and was too big to be swallowed so I didn't have to worry about choking. It was also too big to easily close my mouth, which kept my teeth from grinding. Worked really well.

Side-effects from tooth grinding: headaches, gum recession (from teeth going back and forth in their holes), increased tooth sensitivity (due to gum recession and worn enamel).