Elis
04-01-2002, 08:30 PM
I am a really bad teeth grinder in my sleep. So bad that I often wake myself up with the loud grinding noise I make involuntarily. I'm not a very stressed out person, so I can't trouble shoot there. I am afraid that I will have serious dental complications in the future, but I can't afford the exhorbitant cost of a fitted dental mouth guard. If you know any remedy please help. Thank you.
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Debbie46
04-02-2002, 02:08 PM
Hi, Elis. After reading your post, is is clear you need to get a night guard. Grinding your teeth at night is very hard on your teeth....you are right to be concerned about it. You have two options: go to your dentist and have him make you one...this isn't real cheap. I used a night guard for a long time. A friend of mine suggested I go to a sporting good store; buy a regular mouth guard. You have to take it home, dip it in boiling water for maybe 30 seconds; pull it out of the water (I used tongs), and before it cooled too much, put in on your upper teeth: bite down, and it will conform to the shape of your teeth. You can buy these night nights for like $3.00, and they work as good as one's you have made at your dentist, for much more. A friend of mine spend good money on getting a mouth guard for her son, made by her dentist; then she found out about buying a similar one at a sporting goods store(which she bought and now uses herself); and she told me both of them looked almost the same. Plus, they last ages. To clean them, just scrub daily with your toothbrush and toothpaste. This will take the pressure off your teeth, and maybe your pain will heal in time. Good luck to you, Elis! Debbie
P.S. I actually copied and pasted this post to you, Elis. Someone else was having bottom front tooth dental pain, but her dentist could see no major damage done so far. After reading her post, I wrote her this suggestion, as she said she had a problem with grinding her teeth at one point. Grinding your teeth can have very serious long term consequences; so do get a mouth guard ASAP. I used one for 2 years; had no problems with it (one I bought at a sporting goods store).
P.S. I actually copied and pasted this post to you, Elis. Someone else was having bottom front tooth dental pain, but her dentist could see no major damage done so far. After reading her post, I wrote her this suggestion, as she said she had a problem with grinding her teeth at one point. Grinding your teeth can have very serious long term consequences; so do get a mouth guard ASAP. I used one for 2 years; had no problems with it (one I bought at a sporting goods store).
Elis
04-02-2002, 03:57 PM
Thank you so much, Debbie! That is so kind of you to reply. That is a great suggestion, since I can't afford the dental mouth guard, I will certainly pick up a sport mouth guard. I was just afraid that this "cheaper" mouth guard would actually end up doing more damage to my teeth (like disfiguration) after years of wearing it, but at this point, I really have nothing to loose and the "boiling water" solution is a brilliant idea. Thanks again! :D
Debbie46
04-02-2002, 10:28 PM
Hi again, Elis. I don't think the mouth guards you buy at a sporting goods store can damage your teeth, for when you put it on to mold it, it molds to the shape of your teeth. Its just molded rubber, like the ones you have made at a dentist. Since the rubber is soft, it can't really hurt the teeth, I wouldn't think. It sure is better than grinding your teeth, that's for sure. Just follow the instructions on the back of the package carefully. Well, good luck to you. I hope you can save your teeth from un-needed wear and trauma...Debbie
Elis
04-03-2002, 06:31 PM
Hey Debbie, I purchased a sports mouth guard yesterday. I boiled it in water and molded it to my teeth and I'm really suprised at how well it formed to my teeth. I had to trim a bit of it as it was digging into my gums, but now it is actually quite comfortable... (as comfortable as you can get with a big hunk of rubber and plastic in you're mouth ;)) As last night being the first night trying it, I think it's great. I didn't wake up at all during the night because of the grinding noise my teeth usually make, and today I don't have the head ache and sore jaw that I'm so used to! So, I just wanted to thank you for the brilliant suggestion, and to let anyone reading this who may have problems grinding teeth that you can find relief without spending the exhorbitant cost of dentistry. Thanks again! :)
~Elis
[This message has been edited by Elis (edited 04-03-2002).]
~Elis
[This message has been edited by Elis (edited 04-03-2002).]
Debbie46
04-04-2002, 03:19 PM
I'm so glad you went and bought one, Elis! The one's I bought were like clearish rubber...but they had colored ones, and one's with a strap thing on them. I didn't buy that kind: just the plain mouth guard. I can't remember if it took a while for me to get used to my mouth guard...I think I felt relief that I wouldn't be able to damage my teeth anymore; its a good feeling. It makes me feel good, that I was able to help you out....Debbie

