My Plastic-free Life - Topic: Plastic Dental Night Guard

Katrina on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:09:48 -0700

I am glad to know I am not alone in this battle between the health of my teeth and risking the money since I am not insured for dental or sleeping with plastic in my mouth every night! So far I have opted to risk my teeth without any negative results. I will gladly start to investigate any mouth guards without plastic if such a thing exists yet. If anything it is nice to know I am not alone and more heads are coming together to brainstorm.

RC on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:37:25 -0700

I have the same problem. The plastic in my night guard causes me to have sinus problems which cause me drainage sinus drainage and a sore throat.. I told my dentist when I order the night guard that I needed one that was bpa and phthalate free. I have no way of knowing if the night guard I received, which coat me $500, is free of toxins. I do know that if I don't wear it, I don't have terrible sinus issues, but then I have noticeable grinding marks on my lower teeth, in time. I need a night guard that will not make me sick.

Peggy Gilges on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:17:52 -0800

I also have to wear a night guard to prevent wear on my teeth. I went to the dentist today for tooth cleaning and was told that I must be more faithful to my mouth guard (I don't wear it every night, as I should). The dental hygienist kept calling the guard "acrylic." I'll try to find out more about mine and pass it on. It is a rigid, hard plastic, not soft and chewy like some are.

EcoCatLady on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:29:36 -0800

The dentist and two of his assistants said they'd contact the company and find out what exactly they are made out of... but that was over a week ago and it's been radio silence, so we'll see.

I'm heartened to know that even the queen of plastic-free living has to make a few exceptions for things like proper dental care!

Beth Terry on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:28:30 -0800

Believe it or not, I actually sleep with a mouthful of plastic. But it's not a night guard, it's Invisalign teeth straighteners, which are BPA-free, but I don't know anything else about the plastic in them. I started with them many years ago before the plastic-free thing, and I spent so much money, I don't want to risk crooked teeth again. But please do let us know anything you find out about what the mouth guards are made from. Can you find out the name of the company that makes them and contact them?

EcoCatLady on Plastic Dental Night Guard

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:20:01 -0800

Hey plastic free folks. I have a question that I wonder if anybody else out there has grappled with.

My dentist says that I need to wear a night guard because I'm wearing down my teeth by grinding and clenching at night. I used to wear one and HATED it because I woke up with a headache every morning, so I finally just "went rogue" and stopped wearing it, and the headaches went away. I'm not sure if the headaches were caused by something leaching from the plastic (the thing tasted like a toxic waste dump) or if it just made me clench more than before.

Anyhow... that was 15 years ago and while my headaches are much better, apparently my teeth are not, so my new dentist really wants me to wear a night guard again. He swears that they use "better" plastics now that don't leach chemicals... but I am unconvinced. But he's got me scared that I'm going to lose my teeth if I don't wear some sort of a guard at night because my enamel is almost gone in spots.

So... I wonder if anybody has any information on this topic? Does anybody know what the "new groovy" plastic is made from? Or are there any alternatives? I was thinking silicone, but everything I've read says they aren't designed for nighttime use... anybody know more than that? I seriously loathe the idea of having a piece of plastic in my mouth all night every night, but I'm not wild about the idea of losing my teeth either.

Thanks in advance for any info or thoughts that anybody might have!

Cat