i have my mouth guard

Yup, so I've been clenching and grinding my teeth when I sleep for about the last year and a half. I don't know if it was from my car accident or just stress in general. But I went to see a TMJ specialist because I was having jaw problems, headaches, and my gums were receding. He fitted me for a "splint" or what most people call a mouth guard.

I got it last Wednesday and have been wearing it ever since. He wants me to wear it 24/7 for six months!!!!!! What!? Why not just at night when I sleep? He said it takes six months to train my jaw not to instinctively clench. I can only take it out to brush my teeth and floss, but then it goes back in.

He wanted me to eat with it in, too, but there is no way. I tried and it doesn't work. First of all, I can't chew. Second, it takes forever to eat a meal. And third it gets pretty gross when food gets in the splint. (Was that an overshare? Sorry.) So I take it out to eat and brush my teeth, but then it goes back in.

The first couple days were really hard. My teeth were so pissed at me. "We've been with you since you were 8! Don't we chew your food well? Haven't we been good to you? Why are you putting us through all this pain??" But now they are used to the big hunk o' plastic in my mouth. Which is good because I need their support for the next six months.

So if you see me and I look different (the splint makes my upper lip stick out a bit) or talk different (I still can't say my "s" words without whistling through my mouth guard), you know why. Here's hoping all this helps heal my jaw!