5 Tips for Getting Used to Wearing a Night Guard for Teeth Grinding

by Linda Singh October 30, 2023 8 min read

5 Tips for Getting Used to Wearing a Night Guard for Teeth Grinding

When it comes to teeth grinding, wearing a night guard is often recommended as a way to protect your pearly whites from damage. But, how do you adjust when having trouble getting used to putting one on? It can take some time for your mouth and jaw muscles to adapt to its new sensation - up to several weeks, in fact! If this sounds like an issue you’re experiencing right now, then read on! Here are five tips that should help make transitioning with a night guard much easier. We'll go over ways of easing into wearing it comfortably, what adjustments need making so that using one doesn't feel weird, and also strategies for adjusting over time.

Understanding the Importance of Getting Used to a Night Guard

It's common for folks to consider getting a night guard when it comes to dealing with teeth grinding. It can be hard selecting the perfect fit but you also gotta learn how to use one without making your mouth feel uncomfortable and unsafe. These tips should make this experience less of an obstacle, but patience and practice is key! The first step is taking it slow - don't even think about going all in straight away as wearing a night guard for long hours can prove counterproductive in the end.

Wearing the night guard every single night is obviously important in order to get comfortable with it as quickly as possible, but if you're feeling too uncomfortable at first then try wearing it just for bedtime and going without it during the day. This can also help reduce saliva production which is normal when anything foreign enters your mouth. But if that's not enough and you still find yourself struggling to keep your guard in place all through the night - don't worry! There are plenty of adhesives out there specifically designed for this purpose that provide extra hold while keeping comfort levels high so you make sure everything stays where it needs to be throughout a peaceful night's sleep.

It's pretty easy to apply the adhesive, just make sure you've got some extra ready in case your device needs re-sticking. If it doesn't stay securely in place through the morning, then starting again is gonna be a drag! Making big changes in life can take time and forming new habits like wearing a night guard isn't any different. Don't give up after one or two attempts. Results won’t come instantly so stick to it and chances are eventually everything will click into place.

Don't let your nightly routine go unchecked. Forming a habit requires incorporating activities into your bedtime regimen. Just like brushing your teeth before putting on a retainer or cleaning up after eating or drinking, make sure that cleaning off the plaque from the night guard is part of this process too.
Reward yourself and congratulate yourself when meeting certain markers in forming healthy oral habits! Once you successfully start wearing a night guard  overnight for multiple days straight, reward yourself with something special such as an extra hour of sleep or taking  an evening stroll outside. These will further motivate you toward making this good practice firm and unyielding.

Strategies for Night Guard Adjustment Period

Getting used to wearing a night guard can be tricky, especially when you first start. It may feel like your mouth is full and uncomfortable as it's getting accustomed to the new addition while sleeping. However, with some small modifications, you could make this process simpler and quicker! Here are five strategies that might help. To begin with, try using an over-the-counter appliance that fits properly. If the night guard fits your mouth securely, but is not uncomfortably tight or constricting, you might find it more comfortable than other options. During this period, try sleeping with just half of the night guard in instead of both pieces. This should help relax your jaw and reduce teeth grinding against each other. Additionally, when first starting out, limit how often you wear the night guard and then gradually increase usage as time passes on by.

At first, it can be a bit overwhelming to start wearing a night guard every single night. To make the switch easier, you might want to just wear your guard one or two nights a week until you're comfortable with it. After that, there are different thicknesses of guards available - thinner ones usually fit better while thicker ones provide more cushioning and protection from grinding teeth together. It's also important to practice being aware of how your teeth feel when they touch the guard. This way, if anything seems off, you'll know what adjustments need to be made!

If you're feeling any pain or discomfort where your upper and lower teeth are rubbing against each other while wearing a night guard, try slightly pushing them apart with your tongue. Make sure to keep them close enough together that it remains secure. Additionally, applying some water-based lubricant inside the mouthguard every few days will help it adjust even better to your mouth's shape by creating a slicker surface between plastic material of the guard and your lips, teeth, and tongue, which allows all those parts to move around more comfortably without sticking or pinching. Remember, whatever works for you is essential when getting used to having this device on, so don't give up if something isn't working from the start. Following these simple tricks should be easy in order to increase comfort level as well.

How to Make Your Night Guard Comfortable

Having a night guard is an amazing way to get relief from teeth grinding during sleep. Although, adjusting to having a device in your mouth can be tricky. To make sure that the protector fits comfortably and you don't feel like it's choking you, here are some tips! Firstly, see that the one you buy has got the right size for yourself because there isn't any universal option available. If the night guard is not in the proper shape or size, then wearing it could become too uncomfortable at night.

It's essential to bear in mind that it usually takes many tries before finding the right fit for you, so don’t quit if your initial attempt isn't cozy. After knowing the accurate size, another approach of making a night guard more comfortable is by using denture cream or toothpaste as an adhesive glue. Doing this will stop the nightguard from moving around and causing trouble inside your mouth during slumbering time. Maybe you might want to try having someone qualified adjust your night guard for enhanced solace too. And finally, when adjusting to wearing a new device, start off with short spells of wearing the night guard and then slowly increase wearing it over time until you get used to placing it whole through sleep hours. With these pieces of advice in thought, sleeping soundly shouldn’t take long anymore. All thanks goes out toward your custom-made faithful companion - your night guard!


Tips on How to Get Used to Wearing a Night Guard

Many of us use night guards for teeth grinding. It's great at protecting our pearly whites from further harm and potential long-term issues. But, getting used to the guard isn't always plain sailing. It can be uncomfortable initially and you may find yourself having trouble dozing off with some plastic in your mouth. Here are a few tips that could make this transition smoother. Start by wearing just an hour or two of your night guard.

Giving yourself the chance to adapt to having something inside of your mouth prior to wearing it all night long is a smart idea. You can start by utilizing it for short periods and gradually extend this as you feel more comfortable with the feeling. Secondly, make sure that whichever type of night guard you purchase has been designed especially for you and provides lasting quality. Cheaper options won't provide adequate durability or comfort levels so investing in one which offers these benefits will be worth the price!

Finally, it's essential to practice speaking with the night guard inside your mouth. A lot of people feel uncomfortable talking while wearing this device; however, learning how to speak confidently while using it in public may become necessary at times. Taking the time beforehand to get used to communicating with others when you have it on will help build up your confidence for any situation, whether that be during daylight hours or after dark.

It's also important to reduce the amount of caffeine you consume prior to bedtime. Research shows that this can make any existing teeth grinding symptoms worse. Caffeine is also known for messing with your sleep patterns so ditching or limiting its intake close to bedtime could potentially benefit both your oral health and overall restfulness by allowing more time for relaxation without disturbances from clenching and grinding habits.

Last but not least, avoid hard foods like nuts near nighttime as they're uncomfortable while wearing a night guard, which should fit over crowns and fillings if applicable. Plus, minor pain has been reported in some cases due to lack of flexibility caused by material used in making these custom dental appliances. Rather than eating crunchy snacks right before going off the lights, it'd be better to stick with soft dishes such as mashed potatoes or oatmeal several hours beforehand. That way you'll get maximum comfort while using an appliance made specifically for preventing tooth-grinding during nights. Now doesn't this sound much easier?

Easing into Wearing a Night Guard for Teeth Grinding

For many people, wearing a night guard for teeth grinding can be quite unusual and uncomfortable. And unfortunately, it's normal to feel uneasy while using the device during those first few weeks. However, with some patience and practice, you should eventually get used to your night guard so that it fits in well with your lifestyle. Here are five tips on how to make this transition easier. Begin by taking baby steps and investing in a soft or flexible type of night guard that may prove more comfortable at the start-up period.

It's essential to make sure that your dentist takes an exact impression of your teeth so the night guard fits conveniently when you take it home with you. As time passes and as your jaw becomes accustomed to wearing this device, consider getting a hard or rigid one if necessary. Secondly, ease yourself into using it. Go slow when putting on the night guard each evening. If thoroughly fitting it over all of your bottom teeth feels intimidating, start by working up to get used to how it feels by just having them cover only the top half for some nights then gradually continuing onto a full routine every evening.

Thirdly, familiarize yourself with new materials. You can get special cleaning solutions and tablets designed specifically for dentures and night guards at most pharmacies or online retailers. These products will be of great help in keeping bacteria away from your device between brushings but utilizing them may also enable you to become comfortable with different textures and shapes that were unknown before now.

Fourthly, have a conversation with your dentist about ways to soothe any discomfort during sleep. What kind of strategies could work best when it comes to nighttime wear? Are there certain activities that should be avoided if pain is experienced while sleeping? These are the questions you need answers for!

If you're having any kind of mouth discomfort while wearing your night guard, be sure to tell someone. Sometimes medications or relaxation techniques can help bring relief and protect against further damage from grinding teeth. But, keep in mind that it takes some time to become accustomed to something foreign inside our mouths, especially when we put them on every evening before bedtime. So make sure you practice good oral hygiene habits with your device each day as this will really help make the feeling of comfort easier as opposed to dreading it all together.

To wrap things up, it takes some time to get used to wearing a night guard for teeth grinding. Before you do anything else, speak with your dentist about the best type of night guard that's suitable for your needs and make sure it fits properly. You can also ease into it by practicing while wearing the night guard during day hours using water-based lubricant as well as adjusting pressure with different pillows if necessary. Keep in mind that hygiene is essential when dealing with mouth protection so keep both clean! Additionally, practice relaxation techniques before bedtime so you can adjust more easily. With dedication and consistency, nothing should stop you from getting accustomed quickly enough.

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