Teeth grinders, what do you do about it?

[Triumph]

I think I finally realized how bad of a teeth grinder I am. People have told me about it for years but it just never registered. For about 7 or 8 years I wore my plastic retainer (after braces) that had a hinged top and bottom, and I think that kept me from grinding for a long time, but I lost that about 4-5 years ago. I bought one of those pure sleep devices for snoring, and that does seem to work for snoring, with the associated benefit of keeping your teeth separated, but the thing is pretty damn bulky. I can't keep my mouth closed, end up drooling all over my pillow.

So finally I bought a grinding specific mouth guard at Target, I can't remember the brand but it was about 15 bucks, and you do the whole boiling and molding process. So I did that, it fits well, but in about 3 months I've nearly destroyed it! It only goes on the top, and I've also found that it can even incite more jaw movement - not grinding but I just play with it like chewing a piece of gum. Kinda weird, but whatever.

So what do you teeth grinders use? The $400 dental device?

 

[Anubis]

i have a hard mouth guard. Fitted one got it from the dentist (the 400$ one). i had a soft one but ended up biting through it

 

[nickbits]

Dentist one. Insurance paid got it.

 

[Triumph]

what is the dental one like compared to the boiled plastic ones?

 

[Anubis]

its very hard plastic, thats molded to your teeth

 

[Rage187]

i have a hard mouth guard. Fitted one got it from the dentist (the 400$ one). i had a soft one but ended up biting through it

This. Mine was only a few hundred though.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Doctors nightguard at Walgreens. Dentist wanted couple hundred even with dental insurance. Found the nightguard by reading reviews and it's been great. Probably close to a year of use. Soak it in denture cleaner after every night.

 

[Anubis]

This. Mine was only a few hundred though.

yea i think mine came to under 250. ins paid for some of it

 

[Oakenfold]

Found a couple on Amazon that are meant for sports. Around $20 for 2-3 guards.
Glad I did not get one from the Dentist. I would have shredded it with the way the boxing mouthguard looks after 3 months of use.

Also, I only use mine at night.

 

[Corporate Thug]

custom mouth guard from dentist. It costs a lot but certain worth it considering how much one veneer would cost when you grind down a tooth.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Found a couple on Amazon that are meant for sports. Around $20 for 2-3 guards.
Glad I did not get one from the Dentist. I would have shredded it with the way the boxing mouthguard looks after 3 months of use.

Also, I only use mine at night.

How you seen one from a dentist? the plastic mold they use is INCREDIBLY firm...absolutely zero flexibility.

 

[blackangst1]

I have the custom one from the dentist. I grind pretty hard and its going on its 4th year. Still great. I take it in when I get my teeth cleaned and they throw it in the cleaner for me.

 

[JustMe21]

I've used a sports mouth guard before. You basically boiled water to soften it up to get it to do teeth imprints. The good part about it was that it stopped your bottom teeth from moving, but I know I tended to spit it out at night. The one I got from the dentist is a tighter fit and hasn't ever been fit out, but it doesn't stop the bottom teeth from moving.

 

[Oakenfold]

How you seen one from a dentist? the plastic mold they use is INCREDIBLY firm...absolutely zero flexibility.

Yes I have. I was not impressed. The one I saw was very thin. That could be by design though. I imagine most patients do not want a huge hunk of plastic in their mouth.

It sounds like we have seen very different mouthguards. Does anyone know of a benefit to using the one made by the Dentist over a Walgreens mouthguard? When I asked my Dentist they really wouldn't give me a straight answer.

 

[Triumph]

Does the dental one keep your jaw from moving? The one that I bought from Target, is basically only the top teeth, so there's nothing to keep me from grinding it away (which is better than grinding my teeth away), but at ~15 bucks every 2-3 months, it might not be cost effective to keep buying that for essentially the rest of my life instead of getting the dental one.

Doctors nightguard at Walgreens. Dentist wanted couple hundred even with dental insurance. Found the nightguard by reading reviews and it's been great. Probably close to a year of use. Soak it in denture cleaner after every night.

Is that one Walgreens house brand or some other brand?

 

[Triumph]

evening crowd?

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I have one from the dentist. It's hard plastic and there are deep grooves where I am grinding through it. It's lasted for a while so far though. It has stopped the chewing up my teeth and spitting them out dreams at least.

 

[blackangst1]

The one I got from my dentist fits snugly on my bottom teeth, and has my top teeth impressions on it. So, while I can still talk, drink water, whatever, when I go to grind, my teeth and jaw dont move at all.

 

[isekii]

Mine was free from the dentist. I have to probably go back for a new one.

 

[Riverhound777]

MY GF uses this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Bonus-Pack-Gri...d+for+grinding

She's on the second one now, the first lasted about 6 months. I figure 2 a year for $15 is much better than paying $400 for one from a dentist.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Yes I have. I was not impressed. The one I saw was very thin. That could be by design though. I imagine most patients do not want a huge hunk of plastic in their mouth.

It sounds like we have seen very different mouthguards. Does anyone know of a benefit to using the one made by the Dentist over a Walgreens mouthguard? When I asked my Dentist they really wouldn't give me a straight answer.

I believe you are right...we probably saw different guards. The one I get from my dentist is a VERY tight fit. I mean I have to push it is place. Because of the tight fit, it barely feels like there is anything in there at all. Very comfortable to sleep in and no saliva formulating (which I found to be the case with the store ones). Sounds like a big YMMV though...

 

[homercles337]

This. Mine was only a few hundred though.

This. Mine was $600 and my rubbish insurance did NOT pay for it.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Mine was free from the dentist. I have to probably go back for a new one.

wow was it a custom one? because that's a really nice score!

was it used?

 

[Corporate Thug]

This. Mine was $600 and my rubbish insurance did NOT pay for it.

Dental insurance is quite terrible all the way around. Long wait periods combined with small maximums. A root canal + crown can eat up a entire years' policy. If my employer did not offer it at no cost, I doubt I would pay out of pocket for it...dentists usually have heavy cash discounts esp if you pay the balance up front.

 

[isekii]

wow was it a custom one? because that's a really nice score!

was it used?

Custom. Did the plaster crap in the mouth and got it about a week later.
I'm guessing my insurance covered it, but I didn't pay a dime. My dentist rocks.
4 Wisdoms removed~ nada out of pocket. several white fillings done nada out of pocket.
I've hit the jackpot