Jaw clenching - mouth guards how long before a difference??

So I started REALLY clenching my jaw a few years back while on high dose prednisone. It is listed as a common occurrence with pred so I thought I would ask you folks about this. It's three years now after stopping pred and I am clenching harder than ever and not just at night...all day. It may also be due to extreme stress at work & one of my more recent dx lists it as part of the disease. Who knows but it has to stop since my jaw is swelling.

I had bought a mouth guard a year ago and quickly stopped using it as it made me gag. Dentist wants to make me a guard (I thought I broke a cracked tooth, but I broke one of my crowns!). We just spent $400 on one for my husband and it may or may not be covered for him with sleep apnea. I just bought these 3 day wear disposable guards to try. They are somewhat of a help at night....but by the end of the work day I am still hurting. Hoping I can retrain myself to stop clenching as I never did it before three years ago.

Question - how long before you noticed lasting effects wearing a mouth guard?

Thanks and Take Care

I'm a life long clencher and grinder. I've tried all of the over the counter ones, and never had any luck with them. Finally let my dentist make me one 6 months ago. It really does help, probably took a good month before I noticed a big difference in my jaw pain and stuff. I'm also mainly trying to save my teeth. I try to pay attention to when I do it during the day, but most of my problem is at night.

I think I grinded harder on the store bought ones. They just weren't all that comfortable, and I would bite down even harder. One time I couldn't even open my jaw after wearing one. I gave up on those. Done the ones that you boil, the ones that you slide to fit your mouth. The sports ones. Ugh, so frustrating. I really like the one my dentist made me. My dental insurance covered a good portion, which I was surprised about. lol

Jen77 and Big Betty - thanks for the info! I am now picturing a dog walking around like a football player with a guard on his teeth! I had night 4 with the disposable guard last night...I think it is helping some. I decided to bring it in the car and wear it on the drive home too---I am still clenching in the day and maybe those 30 minutes will help.
I agree about the clenching harder on some of these things---I was worried it wouldn't sit right and it took me time to realize I didn't have to bite to get it to stay in place. I have a dozen more of these that are supposed to last 2-3 nights. By then, hubby will have his and I will see how he does with the expensive one.

Gumby....I think work is just one piece of the puzzle, but yeah I am trying to relax. Yoga and poetry and music are the big helps right now. Frankly, if I could get back to a glass of wine every other night that helped a lot! Robert Frost and William Carlos Williams and the Adam Ezra Group can only make me relax so much!