Anyone grind their teeth?

MrsMyrtle

I was told that's the culprit for my busted toof. She also told me to get a night guard, otherwise it's only a matter of time before it busts again.

I have a feeling this will be the first of many gaggy nights. Anyone else sleep with a night guard?

Mrs.Thistletwat

I got one through my dentist. I love it. It's hard and helps me avoid damaging my teeth though it doesn't help with the clenching. I just clench on it.

AuntFlo

I grind my teeth.   I am supposed to wear a night gaurd, but I have a very strong gag reflex and can't do it.   So my teeth are slowly grinding away and sometimes when it gets really bad, the muscles in my jaw lock up.   (Which reminds me of 6fsn's story and makes me laugh...)

GBCK

I take out my night-guard and throw it @ night.

We've done some behavioral mod stufff ro me w/ it...that's about the best of it.

C&S1030

We'll go through this together MrsMyrtle.  I go in next week for a mouth guard fitting.  I also have to get a bottom retainer... my grinding is messing up all the pretty work my orthodontist did. 

DG1

I'm only a little ashamed to admit I've been using the same night guard for about 18 years.  (I've asked to replace it and the dentist said I didn't need to.)

If you're gagging, it's not fitted properly.  If you get one properly made by a dentist or periodontist, they can make it a little thinner and better conformed to your mouth (mine has no plastic in front of my front teeth, for example, because they already stick out pretty far).

But man, they are awesome.  Before I got it, I was probably taking 12-15 tylenol per day to try to stop the headaches.  Now it's hard to sleep without it - sortof like a little pacifier.

[Deleted User]

You shouldn't be gagging with a nightguard if it fits right. I have a bad gag reflex but don't have a single problem with mine. It fits securely over my teeth and after awhile, I got used to it and don't even feel it anymore when it's in.

alikatt17

I've been using one for 9 years now.  Grinding my teeth gave me TMJ and I had to have my canines rebuilt (I was 17 y.o. with the teeth of a 45 y.o.).  I've never had a problem with gagging (<-- that's what she said).  I can tell when I skip a night because my jaw will hurt and the night guard doesn't fit quite right.  

scpalmtree06

Another night guard wearer here.  In seeing how chewed up my night guard is, though, I can tell I still grind and clench against it.  It's just protecting my teeth so they don't get chipping. 

GL with yours.