How do I save my teeth from weak enamel and grinding?
I am not a dentist – but I have been bank rolling one. You need a bite splint to save your teeth – spend the money and get a good one, as you’ll be wearing it every night – dentist will mould your upper teeth and have a snug fitting splint made – cheap or over the counter bite splints can cause other problems (plus, they’re generally uncomfortable). Have your teeth properly cleaned to remove all the scale build up, then get a flouride treatment – which will strengthen your enamel. After brushing and flossing – use GC Tooth Mousse as an additional treatment to help strengthen what tooth enamel you have left. Speak to your GP about who you should seek to advise you on why you’re actually grinding. If you drink a lot of coffee, do cocaine, or lead a generally stressful life – these all lead to the grinding scenario. There are myriad reasons for grinding – I’ve heard calcium deficiency among other diet related issues c
(I am not a dental professional, but I spent the last three years working in a dental office, I ask *lots* of questions, and I’ve had really bad jaw problems for almost ten years, which I’ve controlled through a number of ways I’ll end up listing, plus a few that I won’t.) You have to be really careful with the cheapo guards – if you don’t fit it exactly right, you could do more harm than good by forcing your jaw to change position. Definitely get one that’s made by your dentist, and don’t forget to ask about coming in for adjustments. One thing that helped me get into the habit of flossing more regularly was finding a brand that I really liked and leaving a couple packages around my house, like by my bed and by the computer. Until I started using Butler Gum’s Eez-Thru Floss, I could never do a proper job because it just shredded and got caught and felt uncomfortable.
I am not a dentist. You are asking a question that only your dentist can answer. If you don’t trust your dentist, or are not satisfied with the response from that office, a change in dentists is necessary. You may not need fluoride. You may need braces. You may not have decay in your posterior teeth. You may have any number of conditions and concerns that we are totally unable to identify and address. Metafilter does not have access to your radiographs, your dental charts, your medical history, even your photographs and your attitudes about your teeth. I used to manage dental offices and we took those getting to know you packets very seriously. Answer those questions honestly and ask your own questions. There is very little that dentists have not heard. If you have a dentist that you trust and haven’t been getting in for your cleanings as often as prescribed, please go and get back on track with that. Follow the home hygiene instructions and go back to the office as suggested.
Coming from a similar position, I can sympathise. IANAD, but I can repeat what my dentist told me: the cheap(er) sports mouth guards don’t really cut it for serious nighttime clenching, because you’re not guaranteed a good fit. (Although since other posters recommend it, it’s hardly going to cost you much to try it.) In addition to the physiological effect kalessin mentioned above, a properly-fitted mouth guard helps distribute the force evenly, among all your teeth, causing you less pain and discomfort. A poorly-fitted (e.g., just boiled in water and bitten) mouth guard won’t necessarily have as good a fit, and you’ll still be concentrating your clenching-force. I bought the guard my dentist recommended, and let him fit it, and it has been the most peace-giving money I have ever spent. (Headaches: vanished! Neckache: vanished! Face-ache: vanished.
You can also ask your dentist (I’m surprised he didn’t offer it anyway) fluoride prescription toothpaste. My SO’s father is a dentist, and he sends us Oral B NeutraCare, which is 1.1% fluoride, versus regular toothpaste, which is .24%. You use it once a day (usually at night, because you can’t rinse your mouth out or eat/drink anything for 30 minutes afterward). The only downside is that it’s expensive, but then again, so are dentures. You might also seriously consider changing your diet. For example, sugary sodas are so so so bad because the sugars literally stick to your teeth. Maybe drink more milk or chew sugar-free gum between meals to help clean your teeth. A few other things — I know people who get quarterly teeth cleanings (instead of biannually). You could also try brushing 3x a day instead of two.
