Mouth guard - dental grinding, what to buy?

[Muncher]

So I wake myself up at night grinding my teeth. Never happened before - must be the stress from this financial crisis!

I don't want to ask my dentist as it will cost me several hundred dollars for him to customise a mouth guard for me. Anyone have recommendations on how to buy a "generic" one (obviously I can't try it on and return it, yuk!), where to get it, and a recommended brand and approximate price?

[_protege_]

When you grind your teeth at night while you sleep, it is known as bruxism.

I don't think generic ones are effective, only the ones that are designed for you are. I'm not 100% sure though, you should talk to your dentist.

[Shaner]

A generic one will be fine. All generic ones can be molded to fit your mouth within 5 minutes.

I believe you can get them at Shoppers drug mart for pretty cheap.

[instanoodles]

I have the moulding kind and I find that they never stay in my mouth the whole night, I guess it depends on how hard you grind your teeth.

[Setz]

Why couldn't you return a used mouthguard? I imagine it's no different then returning a used deodorant.

[molala]

Do you know grinding of your teeth could be caused by presence of worm in your body? Go talk to your GP and see what he/she say!

[CSK'sMom]

Wow Aritzia, I think your dentist is overcharging you. Both our oldest and myself are grinders. Oldest got his guard 6 months ago and I just picked up my new one (broke the last one) and they were just under $250 each ($226 IIRC). I got over 3 years out of my last one. Our dentist does the NBlock type for us though, they aren't just a regular moulded mouthguard like a sports one. Ours have a square block of material that sits over the front teeth that won't allow contact of the teeth at all. If you bite down the block contacts first and because it's under the front teeth automatic reflex kicks in.

[Muncher]

Yeeugh, looked up worms + teeth grinding. Seems like it could be pinworms. I feel sick. Must go get parasite cleanse!

[Gloaming]

Should only cost 200-300 including the lab fee. They are thermoacrylic and much thinner than an athletic guard. If finances are tight, you can try the athletic guard but most people find the soft rubber stimulates grinding. Oh- ignore the "worm" people, most people grind their teeth at some point or another in their life.

[OceanDrop]

A mouthguard and a nightguard are not the same thing...

You need a nightguard, for which there is no generic option. It's made from a cast, and costs around $250.

If you buy a mouthguard, it's not meant for sleeping and could impede your airway, plus they're soft enough for a true bruxer to bite through within a couple of nights.

Edit: I should mention that the majority of my clients don't like the guards once they try them, and they try them for a couple of nights and never wear them again. So if money is tight, consider trying to find a cause first and work with that (reduce stress, etc.) If you're finding yourself with a sore jaw and/or headaches, then I'd try the guard.

[caliente]

Wow Aritzia, I think your dentist is overcharging you. Both our oldest and myself are grinders. Oldest got his guard 6 months ago and I just picked up my new one (broke the last one) and they were just under $250 each ($226 IIRC).

Good to know. My dentist (who I dislike but am too lazy to get a new one) wanted to charge me $400-500. He tends to overcharge, and I think even overbills the insurance compared to my previous dentist.

[molala]

Good to know. My dentist (who I dislike but am too lazy to get a new one) wanted to charge me $400-500. He tends to overcharge, and I think even overbills the insurance compared to my previous dentist.

dentist have a different price to insurance compared to those who pay in cash...a hygienist friend of mine told me that the dental association (or however they word it) setted a rule that there's a minumun charge for each services that go through insurance......doesn't make much sense to me though

[notatoad]

I should mention that the majority of my clients don't like the guards once they try them, and they try them for a couple of nights and never wear them again.

this is me. luckily insurance paid for it so it's no loss, but i've worn my nightgaurd maybe 5 times since i got it. they're awful. i really should be better about it, my teeth are being ground away rather quickly.

[Btr2urhrt]

Maybe you could try going into one of the dental schools (Uot or Western) to get a custom made night guard. It'll probably be a lot cheaper than at your dentist's.

[CSK'sMom]

Edit: I should mention that the majority of my clients don't like the guards once they try them, and they try them for a couple of nights and never wear them again. So if money is tight, consider trying to find a cause first and work with that (reduce stress, etc.) If you're finding yourself with a sore jaw and/or headaches, then I'd try the guard.

Hmm, I never knew folks were so adverse to them Ocean. For me, I not only grind but I clench as well do to nerve damage. It's was a god send the first night I wore it. If I don't wear the nightguard my jaw literally aches all day and I get migraines from the clenching. Our son has worn teeth down already, one quite noticeably. I'll admit though it does take a few nights to get used to, especially the block type we have. The second you start clenching or bite down you get that pressure on the front teeth and it's a little shocking at first how that natural reflex kicks in.