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Best Mouth Guards For Grinding Teeth at Night (2020 Update)

Grinding your teeth while sleeping can make it tough to wake up feeling rested and ready for the day. A mouth guard may help remedy that!

By Jack Mitcham

Teeth grinding, a medical condition called bruxism, is caused by clenched jaw muscles and can create bothersome symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, chipped teeth, and sleep apnea. While no cure has been discovered for bruxism, sleepers who struggle with the condition can find relief and protection by wearing a specialized mouthguard when they sleep.

Whether you struggle with genetic bruxism or find yourself grinding your teeth at night more frequently due to stress and anxiety, a nightguard will alleviate grinding and, in some cases, train you to stop grinding altogether. Nightguards can be fitted custom in the dentist’s office or purchased over the counter at drugstores. Keep reading to discover our recommendations for the best mouth guards for sleeping. We’ve also included a shopping guide with considerations for buying and an explanation of the different types of night guards available today.

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Best Mouth Guards For Grinding Teeth at Night

1. Dental Duty Professional Dental Guard: Editor’s Pick
2. Pro Teeth Guard: Best Custom
3. DentalCare Labs Teeth Grinding Mouthguard: Best Value
4. Oral-B Nighttime Dental Guard with Scope: Best for Jaw and Joint Disorders
5. Ora-Guard Dental Grind Guard: Best for Sensitive Teeth

Dental Duty Professional Dental Guard

Editor’s Pick

Reason to Buy: This inexpensive mouth guard pack comes with four trays, uses BPA-free plastic, and is versatile in function.

The Dental Duty Professional Dental Guard has a moldable design for a customized, proper fit and can be worn as a dental protector for bruxism, teeth whitening tray, or athletic mouthguard. This pack of four mouth guards comes with fully detailed instructions for trimming the trays to fit your bite, and the use of high-quality latex- and BPA-free dental-grade materials allows the trays to retain their structure and shape over a longer period of time than other trays on the market. 

The Dental Duty Professional Dental Guard also comes with a hygienic carrying case and is widely available for less than $20. The company offers free refunds and replacements if you’re not happy with the fit even after 30 days from the date of purchase.

 

Pro Teeth Guard

Best Custom

Reason to Buy: For those interested in a customized tray without a visit to the dentist, the Pro Teeth Guard is a high quality, durable option.

While visiting your dentist’s office is your best bet if you’re interested in investing in a custom mouth guard for sleep, the time and costs associated with this aren’t plausible for some people. The Pro Teeth Guard offers a customized mouth guard option that’s more convenient. After purchase, an impression kit will be mailed to your home. You simply mail your impression to the company’s lab and a custom mouth guard will be mailed to your address.

The Pro Teeth Guard comes is available in two styles: adult female and adult male. This custom option is more expensive than most at $179.99, but it’s made with 2mm thick dual-laminate with a hard acrylic outer layer for added durability. The Pro Teeth Guard comes with a 60-night sleep trial and 60-day money-back guarantee.

DentalCare Labs Teeth Grinding Mouthguard

Best Value

Reason to Buy: These affordably priced mouth guards come with four trays and a protective carrying case and can be trimmed for a customized fit.

Expensive, custom mouth guard options aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a value option, the DentalCare Labs Teeth Grinding Mouthguard kit will do the trick. Normally priced between $10 to $15, the set comes with four boil-and-bite mouthguards and a case. 

This is our recommended option if you have a small budget for trays and don’t require custom-fitted nightguards. The set comes with a 30-night sleep trial and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and the trays are made of BPA-free plastic, are trimmable to various sizes, and have a versatile design that can be used at night, during athletic events, and for teeth whitening. 

Oral-B Nighttime Dental Guard with Scope

Best for Jaw and Joint Disorders

Reason to Buy: This guard by Oral-B comes recommended by dentists for those suffering from facial pain and jaw-joint disorders. 

This affordable, semi-custom fitted mouthguard (via the boil-and-bite) has a pleasant, minty flavor and can be softened in the microwave. Reviewers note that it’s even more comfortable than the expensive, custom trays they had made in the past for $300 to $500. The process for molding the Oral-B guard in your home is simple, and the product is made with BPA- and latex-free materials. Sold for less than $20, this kit from Oral-B includes a guard, impression tray, and convenient storage case, and it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. 

Ora-Guard Dental Grind Guard

Best for Sensitive Teeth

Reason to Buy: Our choice for sleepers with sensitive front teeth, the Ora-Guard only covers the back teeth for a comfortable fit. 

The patented bite plate wedge design of the Ora-Guard slides the lower jaw down and forward to relieve tension on the TMJ muscles. It has a low profile, meaning that it isn’t bulky and will be comfortable to wear, and the patented design ensures that the mouth guard will remain secure and not slip. Customizable through the microwave or the traditional boil-and-bite method, this mouth guard allows your teeth to move naturally throughout the night while relieving muscle tension.

Mouth Guard Buying Guide

Types of Mouth Guards for Sleep

There are three common mouthguard designs: custom impression, boil-and-bite, and stock. Below, we explore the three types and share the pros and cons of each.

  • Custom Impression—The most expensive of the three options, custom dental mouth guards are created with an impression of a sleeper’s mouth. These types of mouthguards require a visit to the dentist’s office and can cost $500 or more. Some custom designs are available for purchase online. In these cases, purchasers send their dental impression to the company and receive their customized mouth guard by mail. While costly, these mouth guards produce excellent results due to their tailored designs.
  • Boil-and-bite—Made from material that softens in hot water, the owner submerges the mouthguard in boiling water, allows it to cool, and then bites down to create a customized impression. While not as advanced as custom models, these are more affordable.
  • Stock—Typically “one size fits all,” stock mouth guards are not customizable or trimmable but are the most inexpensive option.

Considerations

When choosing a mouth guard for sleep, it’s important to weigh the following factors:

  • Cost—Your budget will determine the type of mouthguard you can afford, as dental impression models can cost $500 or more. Boil-and-bite and stock mouth guards typically cost $30 or less.
  • Molded or one-size-fits-all—If you suffer from severe bruxism, a moldable night tray may be more effective.
  • Trimmable—Some models can be trimmed with scissors to achieve a better fit.
  • Cleaning instructions—Most guards require a simple rinse, but some options require time-consuming cleanings with costly solutions.
  • Impressions—If an impression is required, consider the costs and timeline of mailing the impression to the manufacturer and waiting for your trays. This can range from 30 to 365 nights.

How to Choose the Right Mouth Guard for Sleep

Sleep bruxism is difficult to treat, but it isn’t impossible to prevent bothersome symptoms with the right mouthguard. If you’re “wired” to be someone who grinds their teeth or if you suffer from jaw pain as a result of exacerbating factors like stress, alcohol, and caffeine, use the list of our best mouth guards for sleep above to get you started in your search. These options can provide relief if you’re not interested in visiting the dentist just yet for a full consultation just yet.

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