Why can't I wear a mouthguard?

[MetalNerd]

Hi everyone!

So glad I found this place. I'm about to get metal braces. But I grind my teeth and my Ortho told me I can't wear mouthguards with braces. Is that right?

Is there anyone else here who grinds their teeth? What do you do?

thanks!

[GRILLZ]

i wore a night guard for grinding, and my ortho said that i would not need (or be able) to wear a night guard during the time braces were on....afterwards he said that my retainer would function as a night guard.....

[MetalNerd]

GRILLZ wrote:
>my ortho said that i would not need (or be
> able) to wear a night guard during the time braces were on.,,

Hi GRILLZ,

So I take it you just grinded your teeth the whole time your braces were on? Eek!
You didn't wear down your teeth? I'd imagine that would create some problems with
your bite correction, no?

[Snowglobe32]

Is it even possible to grind your teeth when you have braces?

[drgnchsr36]

I believe so. I asked my ortho about a night guard. But due to the molar build up (cement stuff) or the bite appliance - I don't think my teeth will touch with braces..

They did state the retainer would work as a night guard after braces are off..so that's good. I was hoping to do the night guard only and no braces..but would just slow down my issues and not resolve them.

[BraceFace2o1o]

I was a grinder before braces, I'd do it through habit as well because I liked the feel but I seemed to have calmed down with that now I am in braces (can't be sure whether I still do it at night). Instead, I clench alot during the night, I wake up with my teeth clenched so tightly together they ache and feel horrid.

I am not 100% but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that you can't wear a mouth guard with braces (during the night/day) because it can stop the teeth moving? I could be wrong though.

[sadpanda]

Chrystal's right. You can't wear a mouth guard with braces because it might mess up how your teeth are supposed to move. I clench and grind my teeth a lot with braces, but it's involuntary and you can't willingly make it better that I know of. However, I've noticed that I clench a lot less after 5 months of braces than at the beginning of treatment.