Sports shield for tooth grinding?

midlandsmissus

I grind my teeth really badly, I was fitted for a bite guard last month but haven't gone back as circumstances are dire and I can't afford the 90 euro for the guard.
However I can literally see my teeth wearing away. Has anyone used a sports shield successfully overnight? Do they stay on? Im looking at ones online and they seem quite loose?

Marcus_Crassus

I've used a gum shield, or mouth guard, since I was about 11. My teeth still got worn down a significant amount before that though.

I think you can buy them in sport shops and mould them correctly to fit your mouth so they won't fall out. Mostly I've gotten mine moulded for me by a dentist so I can't really remember. Mine has never fallen out.

Definitely wear one.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Firstly you need to know the cause of the wear, very rapid tooth wear is more indicative of acid erosion ( heart burn, vomiting, fizzy drinks etc) and that sort of thing. If that is the case a gum shield will make it 10 times worse. Also a soft gum shield will protect the teeth from attrition however they tend to increase muscle activity and cause problems in the long term with the joints.

I wouldn't recommend soft gum shields for anything but short period of time.

midlandsmissus

Caylee Gigantic Timber wrote: »

Firstly you need to know the cause of the wear, very rapid tooth wear is more indicative of acid erosion ( heart burn, vomiting, fizzy drinks etc) and that sort of thing. If that is the case a gum shield will make it 10 times worse. Also a soft gum shield will protect the teeth from attrition however they tend to increase muscle activity and cause problems in the long term with the joints.

I wouldn't recommend soft gum shields for anything but short period of time.

I think it was acid erosion when I was younger as I very briefly had an eating disorder (always embarrassing having to explain that to a dentist). Incidentally would a brief eating disorder do that much damage? Say like over a two month period tops.
Because any time I go to a different dentist, they look at my teeth and are like, God there's a serious amount of damage done, that can't be just from grinding, it must be acid erosion. And the only thing I can think of to explain it is when I was briefly bullimic as a teenager?

Whatever about that, I do grind my teeth very badly at night as I have been heard, with some-one remarking, "I'm surprised you have any teeth left". So taking all the above into account do you think a soft shield is/is not for me? Thanks for any help.

midlandsmissus

Marcus_Crassus wrote: »

I've used a gum shield, or mouth guard, since I was about 11. My teeth still got worn down a significant amount before that though.

I think you can buy them in sport shops and mould them correctly to fit your mouth so they won't fall out. Mostly I've gotten mine moulded for me by a dentist so I can't really remember. Mine has never fallen out.

Definitely wear one.

So it would stay in all over night? Thanks.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I would strongly suggest you make sure that there is no longer an acidic part in this. A lot of people have chronic gastritis at night. A gumsheild will have your teeth dissolved in no time (acid pools in it all night ). This is the most important think to take from this thread.

midlandsmissus

Thanks, something to think about. You'd think the bite guard would be covered by medical card as it is a neccessity :mad:

midlandsmissus

Fitzgeme do you know actually would bullimia over a few months cause that much damage? Interesting to know. And what are the likely long term effects of this.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I think acid erosion investigations with your GP will be covered, forget about the night guards until thats all clear. I have seen acid cases go from teeth to nothing but gums and stumps in 6 months. Attrition from grinding takes years to progress to a appreciable extent. Bulimia can cause rapid damage, but it can also leave you with long term stomach problems letting acid up into your throat at night. Also alcohol, smoking etc have a strong impact. If you can really appreciate a difference over a short space of time I would be worried. Sometimes an honest consultation with your GP is required about these things and stress etc.

midlandsmissus

Caylee Gigantic Timber wrote: »

I think acid erosion investigations with your GP will be covered, forget about the night guards until thats all clear. I have seen acid cases go from teeth to nothing but gums and stumps in 6 months. Attrition from grinding takes years to progress to a appreciable extent. Bulimia can cause rapid damage, but it can also leave you with long term stomach problems letting acid up into your throat at night. Also alcohol, smoking etc have a strong impact. If you can really appreciate a difference over a short space of time I would be worried. Sometimes an honest consultation with your GP is required about these things and stress etc.

Ok thanks, yes I have noticed my teeth actually change shape in the last few months, will get it checked out. Thank you.

Marcus_Crassus

midlandsmissus wrote: »

So it would stay in all over night? Thanks.

Yep, it most definitely stays in! No problem.

PCros

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I grind my teeth really badly, I was fitted for a bite guard last month but haven't gone back as circumstances are dire and I can't afford the 90 euro for the guard.
However I can literally see my teeth wearing away. Has anyone used a sports shield successfully overnight? Do they stay on? Im looking at ones online and they seem quite loose?

You should ask your dentist about the NTI TSS plus device - I will be getting one soon.

The difference is that you don’t have the acid pools as described above and your teeth are slightly separated at night so there is no possible way of contact.

Only downside is its around €200 - but sure isn’t alot of dentistry these days.

Best of luck with it.

http://www.kellerlab.com/115/products/nti-tss-plus.php

btkm8unsl0w5r4

No the other downsides of long term NTI wear is anterior open bite, condylar remodelling and increase risk of developing occlusal interferences. NTI are only useful for short term, acute painful problems. Long term wear to prevent grinding is advised. I consider NTI appliances only the shortest term option for a patient in acute pain from muscle or joint trouble.

PCros

Caylee Gigantic Timber wrote: »

No the other downsides of long term NTI wear is anterior open bite, condylar remodelling and increase risk of developing occlusal interferences. NTI are only useful for short term, acute painful problems. Long term wear to prevent grinding is advised. I consider NTI appliances only the shortest term option for a patient in acute pain from muscle or joint trouble.

What would you recommend for long term grinding? My dentist said the above is good for nighttime wear only.

Thanks

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Any hard splint that covers all the teeth in one jaw. My preference is a Michigan type splint. There are various designs, but the NTI (which just separates your teeth at the front) will help sort term but in the long term you will end up with the back teeth overerupting and the front teeth intruding. NTI is not a bad treatment, its just only for acute relief, grinding is a chronic condition.

PCros

Caylee Gigantic Timber wrote: »

Any hard splint that covers all the teeth in one jaw. My preference is a Michigan type splint. There are various designs, but the NTI (which just separates your teeth at the front) will help sort term but in the long term you will end up with the back teeth overerupting and the front teeth intruding. NTI is not a bad treatment, its just only for acute relief, grinding is a chronic condition.

Sorry forgot to say the NTI is only night time wear for me not full time wear.

Thanks for advice though.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Night time will cause all the problems above, when I say short term I mean for a couple of weeks. Long term is over extended periods. 99% of splint wearers wear them at night only. Seriously don't wear a NTI long term unless you want to end up like the pic above. NTI's are very cheap for patients and easy for dentist to make, proper splints take more time and money and are harder to "sell" to patients. I know one facial pain specialist that want these banned.

jased10s

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002386/

PCros

Caylee Gigantic Timber wrote: »

Night time will cause all the problems above, when I say short term I mean for a couple of weeks. Long term is over extended periods. 99% of splint wearers wear them at night only. Seriously don't wear a NTI long term unless you want to end up like the pic above. NTI's are very cheap for patients and easy for dentist to make, proper splints take more time and money and are harder to "sell" to patients. I know one facial pain specialist that want these banned.

Thanks for the feedback, I will definitely bring this info to my dentist as I already have a slight open bight this may make it worse.

Being devils advocate here but how would a full splint stop clenching - would you not still be effectively biting down and tensing the various muscles in your head?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

PCros wrote: »

Being devils advocate here but how would a full splint stop clenching - would you not still be effectively biting down and tensing the various muscles in your head?

No, there is a bite pattern built into a full coverage splint that give up stability when clenching but separates the teeth during grinding in a very unstable state. The instability generates a feedback in the brain to help control the grinding.