Best Mouth Guard for Teeth Grinding

Best Mouth Guard for Teeth Grinding

Do you grind your teeth when going to sleep? If so, you can stop the habit by wearing a night guard. In this article, you'll discover the best mouth guard for teeth grinding that will help you fight sleep apnea.

best night guard for teeth grindingTeeth grinding and clenching is an extremely painful medical condition. Some people unconsciously grind and clench their teeth during the day while some do so at night. The common symptoms of grinding your teeth include:

  • Constant headaches when you wake up in the morning
  • Soreness or pain on the jaw or face
  • Exhaustion during the day, even when you think you had a long sleep
  • Wearing out, chipping or fracturing of your tooth enamel

Your dentist may recommend a night guard if he/she suspects you grind your teeth while sleeping.

What is a Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth?

A teeth grinding mouth guard is a device that is meant to protect your tooth enamel from the effects of grinding. The TMJ mouth guards are also known as occlusal guards, night guards, bite plates, or occlusal splints. Night grinding mouth guards are affordable and easily available without a prescription.

Most mouth guards are sold over the counter. However, there are some that are custom made for specific consumers. Many people find out about the habit of grinding teeth during a dental checkup. If a dentist notices cracks, misalignment and wearing out of your teeth, he may advise you to protect your teeth using a mouth guard.

Types of Dental Mouth Guards

There are two main types of dental mouth guards; custom-made guards and over-the-counter guards.

Custom Made Guards

Custom made guards are made specifically for you. The teeth guards are comfortable, durable, and of high quality. To get a custom guard, the dentist will need an impression of your teeth. The impression will then be taken in a specialized lab to make a mouth guard for you.

Over the Counter Mouth Guards

There are also cheap and ready-made mouth guards that are sold over the counter in drug stores and pharmacies. Most of the over the counter (OTC) night guards are one-size-fits-all, bulky and keep falling out of the mouth.

While the grinding guards are cheap, they provide a temporary means of protecting your teeth until you get a custom-made mouth guard. Oer the counter mouth guards have to be boiled to soften before biting into them to create an impression of your teeth. When the impression is made, the guard will fit in the mouth.

We’ve reviewed the best TMJ mouth guards to help you find the right option for yourself, kids or loved ones. In the reviews, we’ve given an overview of the products, highlighted the pros and cons and rated them based on online user reviews. We’ve also included links to online sites where you can buy the mouth guards.

Below is an overview of the best mouth guards for teeth grinding

Best Mouth Guard for Teeth Grinding

[wps_table style="stripped"]
Night Guard Recommendation Review Price
Pro Teeth Guard Best Overall Night Guard for Teeth Grinding (Editor’s Choice) Read Review Check Latest Price
J&S Dental Night Guard Well-Fitting & Comfortable. 3 Guards to Choose From Read Review Check Latest Price
Sporting Smiles Night Guard Best for People With a Small Budget Read Review Check Latest Price
Sentinel Night Guard Comfortable, Well Fitting, But Slightly Expensive Read Review Check Latest Price
TeethNightGuard Best Value Night Guard for Teeth Grinding Read Review Check Latest Price
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Mouth Guard for Teeth Grinding  Reviews

1. Pro Teeth Guard

Pro Teeth is made by a dental lab located in San Diego, California. The lab has been in business for over 15 years, delivering thousands of perfectly fitting custom night guards, dental crowns and bridges, dentures, and mouth guards to dentists in the San Diego area.

Today, the company also delivers its night guards to customers through its website. The cost of the night guards starts from $100 (check the current price here) depending on the style. This amount is much cheaper compared to what most dentists charge for a custom mouth guard.

Pro Teeth Guard Review

We tested the hybrid Pro Teeth night guard for this review. The night guard is hard on the outside, has a soft interior, and fits comfortably. This guard is good for moderate to heavy grinders. Depending on your degree of grinding, the night guard can last for 2 to 5 years.

pro teeth guard package
Contents of the Pro Teeth Night Guard Package

The Pro Teeth Guard we ordered was shipped fast. A package comprises of an impression kit and four containers of putty, two different-sized mouth trays, and a prepaid envelope to return your completed impression.

There are clear instructions with photos that show how to go about making your teeth impression before the putty hardens. In case you don't get the impression right, you can request for free putty from the company.

pro teeth night guard molding
The Pro Teeth Night Guard Mold

After making your teeth impression, put it in the prepaid envelope and send it back to Pro Teeth Guard. The company's lab technicians will make your night guard using the impression. In about a week's time, your finished night guard will be sent to you.

Pro Teeth night guards are made of high-quality materials. Since they are custom made, they fit great. The bruxism guards are not bulky and do not move around when you sleep. Moreover, they help to stop teeth clenching, which means no more jaw pain or headaches!

Pro Teeth Guard is the best night guard for teeth grinding. If your doctor has been encouraging you to get a night guard but you couldn't afford one, we highly recommend getting Pro Teeth Guard. These guards are at least 50% cheaper than what you would pay if you ordered directly from your dentist's office. Moreover, they are custom made, provide a good fit, are comfortable, and stop teeth grinding.

READ: Pro Teeth Guard Review.

Check Latest Price

2. J&S Dental Night Guard

J&S Dental Lab provides a number of dental night guards for teeth clenching. The guards are different based on:

  • Where they are fitted. Do you want a top or bottom fitted night dental lab?
  • The severity of your teeth grinding. The night guards are designed for light, moderate, and severe teeth grinding.

JS Dental Night Guard Review

How J&S Dental Night Guard Works

J&S Dental Lab guards have a soft inner section, which ensures a comfortable fit, and a hard outer surface that makes them durable. The teeth grinding guards are made from high-quality materials and are BPA-free.

When you order your J&S Dental Lab night guard, you will receive 3 different-sized mouth trays to choose from, putty, and a prepaid envelope. Use the putty to take the impression of the teeth, put the mold in the prepaid postage envelope, and then send it to J&S Dental Lab.

The J&S Dental Lab pack comes with easy step-by-step instructions on molding your teeth. The company also offers free dental guard adjustments and ships the items for free. Finally, you have nothing to lose to try the guard thanks to the company's "No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee".

J&S Dental Lab mouth guard reviews on Amazon are positive. Even professionals dentists have left reviews regarding the effectiveness of the night guard.

READ: J&S Dental Lab Review.

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3. Sporting Smiles Night Guard

Sporting Smiles has 6 different night guards for teeth clenching. The teeth guards are designed for different levels of clenching or grinding, are custom-made by qualified and certified lab technicians, and are latex-, DEHP-, BPS-, and BPA-free.
sporting smiles night guard

When you order Sporting Smiles night guard, you will receive a self-impression kit for creating the teeth impressions. The kit comprises of a prepaid return envelope, instruction pamphlet, 1 return bag, an adjustable impression tray, and one set of impression material.

Below is an overview of Sporting Smiles night guards and what they are recommended for:

  • Soft Teeth Grinding Night Guard. This guard is made from comfortable and flexible 3mm thick materials. The mouth guard is recommended for people with light grinding and clenching. (check it)
  • Single Hard Teeth Grinding Night Guard. This night clenching guard is made from a 1mm thick material. The guard is not bulky and is recommended for people with light grinding. (check it)
  • Dual Laminate Teeth Grinding Night Guard. Designed for moderate clenching and heavy grinding. This guard features a 2mm hard exterior that makes it durable and a 2mm soft inner material that makes it comfortable to wear. (check it)
  • Custom Flexible SUPER Hard Dental Night Guard. Best for severe teeth clenching or night grinding. This guard is flexible and is made from a 3mm dense material. (check it)

Sporting Smiles mouth guards fit perfectly since they are custom made for your teeth. The putty does not leave a bad taste on your mouth and the grind guards are BPA-free. These guards are made of long-lasting materials, which means you will not replace them often.

Most importantly, the night guards help to stop teeth clenching and grinding.

READ:  Sporting Smiles Nigh Guard Review.

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4. Sentinel Night Guard

The Sentinel night guard is a custom-made dental guard that prevents clenching and grinding. The guard is customized to fit your teeth either on the top or bottom. All bruxism guards from Sentinel are BPA-free and FDA-approved.

sentinel mouthguard review

There are 3 models of Sentinel Night Guards.

  • Sentinel Hard Acrylic Night Guard (0.40 or 0.80) (Hard Inside & Out) (check it)
  • Sentinel Dual Laminated Night Guard Hybrid (2mm thick) (Hard Outside/ Soft Inside) (check it)
  • Sentinel Soft, Clear, Night Guard (0.40, 0.80, .120) (Soft inside/Soft outside) (check it)

To determine the right Sentinel night guard to order, consider the severity of your grinding and whether you will be comfortable wearing a soft or hard night guard.

Most people choose the top night guard. However, if you have broken teeth, you may want to protect them. Therefore, the condition of your teeth should help you decide whether to go with a lower or upper guard. If more broken teeth are on the lower jaw, go for a lower side night guard.

When you order a Sentinel mouth guard, you will receive an impression kit that comprises a teeth tray, putty, molding instructions, and a return envelope. Make your teeth impression and mail the mold to the company for your custom guard to be made.

Sentinel Custom Guards are among the best night guards for teeth grinding on the market. The guards fit well, are comfortable, and durable. Moreover, they are made from hypoallergenic materials.

READ: Sentinel Night Guard Review.

Check Latest Price

5. Teeth Night Guard

TeethNightGuard is made by a private company that manufactures dentist-lab-quality night guards for TMJ, clenching, and grinding.

teethnightguard

Like is the case with the custom night guards we have featured above, TeethNightGuard offers 3 different types of mouth guards that are designed for light, moderate, and severe teeth grinding. You should choose a guard depending on the extent of your grinding or clenching. Apart from this, you have to decide whether to go with a top or bottom nigh guard.

TeethNightGuard is made in the USA and is FDA-approved. The clenching guards are comfortable to wear and fit the mouth properly. Apart from this, they are durable and can last for 2 to 5 years, depending on the severity of your grinding.

READ: TeethNightGuard Review.

Check Latest Price

Instructions on How to Clean a Night Guard

To avoid constantly replacing your night guard, it is important to properly care for it. You should clean it on a daily basis as a daily oral health routine. Read on for instructions on cleaning your night guard to avoid constant replacement.

Store your night guard in a case

Many people store their night guard in the bathroom. This is not recommended because, with time, humidity and steam in the bathroom can make the night guard to warp. The best way of storing your night guard is in a case and on your nightstand or bedside drawer.

Maintain good hygiene of your night guard carry case

Many people promptly clean their night guards but forget to clean the carrying case. This is a waste of time and effort.. Wash your case every other day with regular dishwashing detergent. However, do not place the case in the dishwasher at high temperatures. Doing so may warp the plastic case.

After washing, let the case dry to prevent the growth of bacteria. Night guards cases wear out with time. You should, therefore, replace your case after every 6-12 months, or as soon as you see necessary.

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean the night guard

Immediately after removing your night guard, brush it with a normal soft-bristle toothbrush. You can buy a separate toothbrush for doing this. If you wish, you can also use your toothbrush to clean the night guard.

Toothpaste can be abrasive and might cause your night guard to wear out faster. Therefore, do not apply any toothpaste to the brush you use for cleaning your guard.

Rinse the guard every time after removing it

To loosen any plaque stuck on the night guard and to remove any debris, rinse your night guard every time after removing it.

Ensure the night guard is completely dry before storing it

Bacteria thrive in moist conditions. Therefore, ensure your night guard has completely dried before storing it. If you place your guard on a clean flat surface, it should be dry in about 30 minutes.

Carry out a weekly deep cleaning routine of your night guard

Form a habit of regularly deep cleaning your night guard. This should be a weekly routine. There are several deep cleaning methods you can choose.

To begin, you can use an over-the-counter denture cleaner like Dental Duty. This can be bought at any pharmacy near you. The cleaning procedure is simple:

  • Put a sizeable amount of the denture cleaner in a bowl or glass of water and allow it to completely dissolve.
  • After this, place your night guard in the bowl/glass and let it stay for about 30 minutes
  • Finally, remove the night guard and dry it appropriately.

You can also clean your night guard using a mixture of mouthwash and water.

  • Pour a cupful of mouthwash into a bowl or glass
  • Add water to the mouthwash to a point where if you place your mouth guard in the bowl or glass, it would be completely submerged in the solution
  • Soak your night guard in the solution for up to 30 minutes
  • Remove the guard, rinse it with clean water and dry appropriately.

The last deep cleaning method is to use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.

  • Soak the night guard in distilled white vinegar for at least 30 minutes
  • After this, rinse both the night guard and the bowl with clean water
  • Next, soak the night guard in hydrogen peroxide for at least 30 minutes
  • Rinse the night guard with clean water and let it dry appropriately.

NOTE: Never let your night guard soak for more than one hour. Extended time in the liquid can cause the guard to wear out even faster because of the material it’s been made of.

Take your night guard with you to dental appointments

Carry your night guard with you during your regular dental appointments. This is to allow your dentist to inspect the guard and ensure it still fits you properly. The dentist can also check the guard for signs of wear and tear. Sometimes the dentist might clean the night guard for you.

Conclusion

As hectic and overwhelming as it may seem, cleaning your night guard properly is very important. Not only will this ensure the guard serves you longer, but will also prevent you from suffering from other dental conditions. Creating a routine for cleaning your night guard is the hardest part. Once you get used to the idea, it will be easy.

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