Night guard for clenching? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

littlegreek25 · 10-05-2004, 02:49 PM

Hi everyone. My MD suggested I get a night guard, but I am a clencher, not a grinder. She said I should get the kind you boil and then put in your mouth so that it forms to your teeth. I don't see the point because can't I still clench in my sleep, even with it in? I've read that some people find that using a guard makes their pain worse after a while. I definately don't want that. What do you guys think?

Amy

Michelle99 · 10-05-2004, 07:25 PM

The device I use is designed to reduce the instensity of clenching. It has to be fitted by a knowledgable dentist to work well. I personally would stay away from a nightguard that isn't customized for me. Also, clenchers sometimes have more trouble with nightguards that cover a whole arch of teeth, because they can make clenching even more effective and painful.

I hope you feel better soon.

Jackie284 · 10-06-2004, 12:29 PM

Hi Michelle 99,
can I ask what type of gurad you use, and how is made specifically to reduce clenching ? - as oppse to regular ones I mean ?

many thanks
Jackie

Michelle99 · 10-06-2004, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackie284

Hi Michelle 99,
can I ask what type of gurad you use, and how is made specifically to reduce clenching ? - as oppse to regular ones I mean ?

many thanks
Jackie

Hi Jackie,

The device I use is an NTI. I know that some people on the board have not had success with it, so I think the dentist has a lot to do with it. It's a small piece of plastic that is fit to your front teeth, and it prevents you from clenching on your back teeth or your canines. Clenching on the front teeth does not generate as much force, and the muscles can become more relaxed. There are day and night versions.

It's not a cure, but with the right dentist, it can really help decrease the pain caused by clenching. It also helps some migraines.

Take care.

ezekielchariot · 10-09-2004, 07:43 AM

I had a properly made acrylic splint made which fitted to my upper teeth. I enquired how the device would stop me from clenching, I was told "It just would".
Judging from the marks on the splint, I still tended to clamp down on it but I guess my teeth were prevented from actual grinding. I did notice that with this foreign thing in my mouth during the day, when my teeth attempted to contact, there was an automatic reaction to not clench on it at all whereas often without it I found myselfclenching during doing something stressful at work. I think also this type of splint stopped the jaw being moved into its normal clench position as the teeth would normally mesh ( which might be the incorrect position for the TMJ )
This was a night gaurd and I found it made my salivate a lot to begin with and also after a month of using it, I began getting sore teeth from using it. I assumed my teeth gradually grew or moved slightly.
I decided to buy another one from the internet called "sleep right" night gaurd and it has two rubbery pads to stop your teeth from making contact and is a lot more comfortable. It also tends to stop my clenching as my body reacts unconciously to avoiding biting down on the foreign object. Certainly not a rocket science solution and neither the professional splint or the internet bought one have made a hoot of difference to my TMJ symptoms but at least I dont grind or clench. So you might find one of these devices useful in reducing your clenching if you were to give it a go. Wearing one does take a little getting used to as not being allowed to close your bite feels very restrictive.