Teeth Grinding?

Are the mouth gaurds that they sell at dentist offices and some pharmacies any different then sport mouth gaurds. I grind my teeth alot but the ones made for that are so expensive. Can a good sport gaurd help? Are their any other options? My jaw joint is constantly grinding against itself when I talk/eat. I wake up every morning with my mouth so sore. What can I do about it besides paying a bunch for a special mouth gaurd. That and I have bought one before but It melted from the sun thru my window. But I was never able to keep it in my mouth I always woke up with it on my pillow and my mouth hurting again. My dentist is the one that told me I grind my teeth and thats why I have a slight overbite. I just want it to stop!

Teeth Grinding?
You can try a sports mouth guard; they are less expensive, bulky and not adjusted to your occlusion. Some patients have good results with them, but most complain of the size.





The night guards we fabricate are from models we make from impressions taken of your teeth which shows how the teeth occlude together. They are also a lot smaller, smoother and fit precisely, which means comfort and patients will wear them more often. I grind my teeth and wear mine nightly and occasionally during the day when I catch myself grinding. That should be an indication that they are more comfortable than a sports mouth guard.





They are more expensive usually averaging $200.00 and up but are well worth the money if you grind or clench your teeth and jaws and suffer from the pain associated with this disorder. The pain relief factor makes it well worth the expense.





When I%26#039;ve given a patient a night guard for the first time, I always express the importance of putting it in at least an hour before bed. This is to let your mouth get used to it. It%26#039;s like putting on an itchy sweater, the longer you wear it, the less it bothers you, because your body adjusts to it. The same goes with your mouth, takes a little time to adjust to having the guard in place. After wearing it a week or two you won%26#039;t have any problems with placing it at bedtime.





You will also notice an immediate relief in your jaws and teeth as well as feeling more rested after the first night of wearing one. I hope I%26#039;ve been of some help and that you will discuss this with your dentist. Perhaps he can explain further the TMJ and dental damage that comes from grinding and the benefits involved in wearing a night guard. Good luck!
Reply:I avoided the expensive mouth guard as well. You can get a cheapie at Walgreens. It works the same. It sounds like your teeth grinding is pretty severe so I would buy a couple because you may chew through the first one. You%26#039;ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you start using it though!





Also, the things that cause gringing are sugar, cafienne, gum chewing, and nicotine. If you can avoid these things you%26#039;ll gradullay begin to grind less as well.





Also as a side note, many recreational drugs cause you to grind as well.
Reply:I bought one off ebay. You boil it and mold it to your mouth. You want to mold it really well to your teeth so it won%26#039;t fall out in the middle of the night. My dentist told me it is no different from the one he would sell me in his office for $300.





My grinding is anxiety. You have to control that. Avoid caffeine too. (Taper off that soda slowly though, not all at once. You%26#039;ll get a raging headache. Cut one can out a day and then switch to caffeine free)





http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...





Also, maybe you could talk to your doctor about taking Ativan (lorazepam) before you go to sleep to decrease your anxiety. That%26#039;s what I have to do. There is a generic and it only costs me $10 a month.



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