Mouth guards

[crackertoes]

Talk to me like I’m blonde.

I’m apparently clenching my jaw and/or grinding my teeth at night. MAJOR unrelenting pain on one side of my head from the top of my skull to my collar bone with horrible pain in my jaw. 24/7. Pain meds are not working. Sleep is a joke. Dentist recommends a night guard.

I get that it protects the teeth, but if I’m still clenching or grinding, how does that help the jaw/head pain?

[GFB]

Never heard of that problem..but good luck.

[Mark]

I'm certainly no expert, but I believe the tooth on tooth thing is what causes the problems.

[planosteve]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/teeth-grinding/

[Sangersteve]

It's my understanding the mouth guard acts like a cushion.

Think of it like a shock absorber, when your teeth grind or clinch it is a bone to bone transfer of power.

Add a cushion between the teeth and that power is muted.

[BigTex]

My dentist put me in a mouth guard several years ago because I was grinding my teeth at night (no pain, just evidence of grinding). One downside of the mouth guard - if you get a crown the mouth guard may not fit anymore and you will have to get a new one.