Teeth Grinding Guards: Why Does Mine Cause Pain?

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Your dentist diagnosed you with bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding and prescribed a tooth grinding guard to protect your teeth. You have tried to wear your grinding guard every night as you should, but you wake up every morning with pain and discomfort. Unfortunately, there are a few different things that could be responsible for your pain. Luckily, most of these have a simple fix and will get you back to wearing your protective guard in no time.

It Takes Time to Adjust to a New Guard

Wearing a nighttime grinding guard for the first time can lead to frustration, a lack of sleep, and discomfort or pain. It takes time for you to adjust to this new appliance in your mouth. Some tips to help you better adjust and relieve discomfort include:

  • Choose a custom-fit guard made of thin material. These are less bulky, fit correctly, and are often much easier to adjust to.
  • Consider having a custom-made guard for both the lower and upper teeth. Try each one and see which one is more comfortable for you to wear.
  • Place the guard in your mouth right before you are ready to sleep.
  • Give it at least 30 days of regular wear to allow your body to adjust. In that time period, your brain should get used to the new appliance and block out the sensation of it in place.

Stock Grinding Guards are a Poor Fit

Over-the-counter boil and bite grinding guards are a low-cost guard option. Unfortunately, that low cost often means lower quality. Because they are formed through a boil and bite process, getting the bite down doesn’t always go right. This results in a poorly formed grinding guard that can cause pain and discomfort. The wrong form can cause jaw aches, tooth pain, and gum irritation. During the forming process, jagged edges can form that can irritate your gums or cheeks. In addition, these guards are often bulkier and less comfortable to wear.

Flexible Super Hard

Poor-fitting grinding guards can contribute to increased jaw aches and tooth pain, as you are not receiving the protection a good-fitting guard is designed to provide. Visit SportingSmiles and learn how a custom-fit guard can help reduce painful wear.

While custom-fit guards can be more expensive, here at SportingSmiles we offer custom-fit guards at a fraction of the cost you would pay at the dentist. Our patented self-impression kit allows you to make your mold at home and send it back, where our dental technicians make your custom guard. This is the same process that you go through at the dentist but at a fraction of the cost.

A Bad Guard Can Change Your Bite

A poorly fitted grinding guard, such as a stock guard, can cause additional problems to your teeth over time. A bad fit can cause pressure on your teeth, eventually causing them to shift and adjust your bite. This can lead to a variety of different dental problems. It can also cause problems with your jaw alignment and affect the temporal mandibular joint, causing joint and jaw pain. A bad fit or damaged grinding guard can also contribute to pain and irritation on the inside of your cheeks, tongue, and gums. These are reasons that we recommend a high-quality custom-fit grinding guard.

Dental Work or Tooth Shift Can Change How Your Grinding Guard Fits

If you have been wearing a nightguard for years without any problem, but suddenly are experiencing discomfort, chances are you may have some changes happening in your mouth. Recent dental work, such as fillings or veneers, can affect your bite. When you have dental work, it is essential to let your dentist know you wear a grinding guard, as changes may need to be made.

As you age, your teeth naturally shift in position over time. This natural shift can affect your bite and thus affect how your grinding guard fits. If you notice new discomfort or pain, it may be time to have a new impression and a new grinding guard made.

At SportingSmiles, we know how important to dental health a good nighttime grinding guard is and we are here to help you find one that works for you. Our patented self-impression kit allows you to make your mold at home while our technicians create a high-quality, custom-fit guard designed to feel comfortable in your mouth while protecting your teeth. For more information, visit our Teeth Grinding Guard page today.

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