Best Night Guards (Mouth Guards) For Teeth Grinders Of 2023

To determine the best night and mouth guards for teeth grinders of 2023, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed more than 35 different custom fit guards across a number of companies in the space. In creating this list of custom fit guards, some of the features considered include the following:

• One-time purchase costs
• Subscription/renewal plan costs and fees
• Free shipping and/or returns
• Warranty
• Money-back guarantee
• Thickness
• What level of bruxism the guard is intended to help manage
• What’s included with purchase
• Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating

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Night guards are protective devices used to cover your teeth while sleeping. In the same way that sports mouth guards can help athletes protect their smiles, night guards can help prevent potential damage to your teeth by minimizing teeth grinding overnight.

“Night guards help protect the teeth from breaking, chipping and grinding down due to abnormal pressures and forces of movement that cause stress on the teeth during sleep, such as grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw,” explains Tyler Hales, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist and co-founder of Facer Hales Parker Dentistry in Orange County, California.

Do Night Guards Really Work?

“While [night guards] can successfully prevent wear and breakage of the teeth, they primarily act as a bandaid for symptoms that may be indicative of other underlying concerns,” says Dr. Hales, adding that “when underlying issues are properly addressed, the nighttime grinding can be eliminated and the night guard would no longer be needed.”

“Night guards vary by material strength, thickness and flexibility,” says Dr. Hales. He further adds that “[night guards] can come in a variety of sizes, from coverage of all of the teeth, to partial coverage of only the front teeth.” Fit variations for most night guards usually fall into one of the following categories: stock, boil-and-bite or custom.

Stock or one-size-fits-all night guards are often designed to fit all mouth sizes. This fit type is a quick-fix solution that offers the most convenience and affordability for all. However, the lack of customization may be a problem for some sleepers in terms of comfort and efficacy.

Boil-and-bite night guards typically appeal to DIYers who prefer to spend less money and time waiting on their molds, as this variation allows users to create their molds at home rather than have a lab do it on their behalf.

Custom-fitted night guards are ideal for sleepers aiming for tailored experiences with the best clinical results. All winners on the list above fall under this category.

Aside from damage, the act of teeth grinding can have other painful effects like headaches and jaw pain, according to the American Dental Association. Dental practitioners typically recommend night guards to limit one’s habit of bruxism (the clinical term for teeth grinding), easing the harmful consequences that come with it until the patient gets proper treatment for underlying conditions.

If you frequently grind or clench your teeth at night while sleeping, night guards may be an ideal solution to protect your teeth from damage—temporarily, at least, explains Dr. Hales. “A night guard should only be used as a preventative tool to help protect the teeth until further diagnosis can be achieved to understand the underlying issues causing the grinding.”

According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, teeth grinding in adults may be caused by:

• Stress, anxiety, tension or concentration
• Hyperactivity, sleep apnea or acid reflux
• Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol and illicit drugs
• Certain medications used to treat depression

While common in children, teeth grinding doesn’t have severely damaging effects on adolescent sleepers, as their teeth and jaws evolve and grow at a fast pace. Teeth grinding in kids is typically due to internal mouth irritation, misaligned teeth and allergies and mouth guards designed for children can help with the symptoms of these issues.

When selecting a night guard, “consult with a dentist who can oversee your treatment and make recommendations specific to your symptoms,” recommends Dr. Hales. The following factors are critical criteria to consider when choosing a night guard, according to Brijesh Chandwani, D.M.D., an attending dentist at St. Barnabas Hospital, based in Bronx, New York.

Fit and Comfort

“Pain from the night guard usually implies that the physical therapeutic effect of the night guard is not occurring,” suggests Dr. Chandwani. When assessing the usability and comfort levels of a night guard, you should first weigh the available fit variations. Fit has a direct effect on comfortability, along with the product style, shape and materials used to design the night guard. It’s important to consider these factors when narrowing your product choices.

Material

There are usually “three [material texture] choices [for night guards]: soft, hard and dual-laminated,” according to Keith Kohrs, D.D.S., a Colorado-based orthodontist. Soft night guards typically utilize “soft acrylic material,” hard night guards are typically designed using “a copolyester material or acrylic,” and dual-laminated night guards are typically made with copolyester and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate),” explains Dr. Kohrs.

When assessing the material makeup of a mouth guard, you’ll also want to ensure that the materials used are safe and well-tested for harmful chemicals. Select providers offer BPA-free night guards, for instance.

Airway Protection

Choose a night guard that won’t block the airways, recommends Dr. Chandwani. “If someone has a large tongue, I usually decide on a night guard on the top teeth,” says Dr. Chandwani. “If someone has a very small palate, I usually decide on a bottom night guard,” he adds. You can always consult with a dentist on what’s best for your facial structure.

Smile-Friendliness

The wrong night guard may cause your teeth to shift, which could possibly lead to the development of a crooked smile. This especially applies to patients in the adolescent stages of life. The night guard’s material can make a huge difference in how well it protects your smile, which a dentist can further advise you on. “In young patients, I prefer a hard night guard as they can work as retainers also and prevent shifting of teeth,” adds Dr. Chandwani.

If you notice that you have a frequent habit of grinding or clenching your teeth at night, you should seek treatment from a dentist immediately, says Dr. Hales. “When tooth structure is lost due to grinding, the bite can collapse and put stress on certain areas of the teeth and the temporomandibular joint,” he adds. “This could compromise previous dental work and lead to potential root canals or even dental implants.”

If night guards aren’t a fit for you, your dentist might suggest alternative preventative measures like counseling, meditation or exercise.

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