Sleep bruxism, or the act of clenching and grinding the teeth at night, is a common affliction affecting about 10% of the population. Bruxism can have a number of annoying side effects, from dental issues and headaches to sleeplessness and more. While it’s always good to consult a doctor or a dentist to truly diagnose your issues with bruxism, there are a number of mouthguards that can help protect your teeth while you sleep.
To help you on your sleep journey, here are some of our favorite mouthguards to help with grinding and clenching at night. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from sizing and thickness to the best custom guards professionally made to fit your mouth. These mouthguards cover a wide range of budgetary options as well, so you’re sure to find a guard perfect for your needs.
Best Overall
Pro Teeth Mouthguards
Pros:
- Each order includes an impression kit so that you can mold the guard to your teeth. You can choose between an adult male and an adult female guard.
- There are four mouthguard options for different grinding severities: light to moderate, moderate to heavy, heavy to severe, and ultra thin daytime.
- This is a quality mouthguard that, according to the company, should last folks two to five years.
Cons:
- It takes about three or four weeks for the process before you receive your custom mold, so if you need an instant solution, we recommend looking elsewhere.
Pro Teeth Guards
Pro Teeth Guard offers four different reusable models for varying severities of grinding.
Sleepopolis Score
4.80 / 5
Top Contender
LORIOUS Set of 6 One Size Fits All Mouthguards
Pros:
- With six guards, this package is one of the more economical on the market, which is great for a product that should ideally be replaced every few months.
- The guards are easily molded using boiling water, and easily stored or transported using the included case.
- These mouthguards are BPA free and phthalates free which helps avoid potential toxicity or unpleasant taste.
Cons:
- As a one-size-fits-all option these guards can be uncomfortable for smaller mouths, especially if they’re being purchased for children.
Lorious Mouthguards
This pack of six no-frills mouthguards are great for their economy. Easily molded using boiling water and one-size-fits-all, these versatile guards are a great way to combat grinding or clenching at night. They’re also easily trimmed to size using scissors and the package comes with a clamshell case for easy portability.
Best Value
The ConfiDental Pack of 5 Moldable Mouthguards
Pros:
- While many mouthguard packs come in different sizes for different mouths, the varying thicknesses with these guards is great because you can choose based on severity of your grinding or clenching.
- These guards are on the lower end of the price range, yet you’re still getting five individual pieces.
- The molding process is simple, and the addition of an antibacterial case is great for storage and travel.
Cons:
- Because these guards are one size fits all, they can run a little big and bulky (especially the two thicker mouthguards), so if you have a small mouth or are sensitive to larger guards these may not be the best option.
The ConfiDental Moldable Mouthguards
This pack of five thermoplastic mouthguards is BPA and phthalate-free, and comes in two different densities: two thicker guards for more serious grinding issues and three standard-sized. The guards are easily molded and fitted using boiling water and come with an antibacterial case to keep them clean when not in use.
Best Soft
Chomper Labs Soft Guard
Pros:
- The softer material provides a nice “cushion-like” feeling for the teeth
- Comes with fast, free shipping and a mouthguard case
- Made by professionals so you don’t have to try to mold your own guard
Cons:
- If you are an extreme teeth grinder, this may not be the right model for you. Chomper Labs suggests this for light to moderate grinding. However, they do have other models that be a better fit for a more aggressive grinder
Chomper Labs Soft Guard
The Chomper Labs Soft Guards was made by professionals, so you don't have to mold your own guard. This guard is made of a soft material for a cushioning feel.
Best Multi-Size Mouthguards for Grinding
Dental Duty Set of 4 Professional Mouthguards
Pros:
- The two size options is the biggest pro for this set of mouthguards; they can be used for parents and children, or for a couple who both need night guards but have varying sized mouths.
- The mouthguards are BPA free and easily moldable using boiling water.
- The guards are a good intermediate thickness and softness, providing good support without too much excess material.
Cons:
- Having two sizes is great if you’re outfitting more than one person, but if you’re just getting the guards for yourself you may be left with two unusable guards that don’t fit your mouth.
Dental Duty Professional Dental Guards
One of the biggest hurdles to finding the right mouthguard for teeth grinding is getting the sizing just right; most guards are made of a moldable thermoplastic that can have extra material that can be uncomfortable for those with smaller mouths.
Best Custom Mouthguard for Grinding
enCore Guards Custom Dental Mouthguard
Pros:
- The impression process is easy and intuitive, and the included return mailer makes the whole process as convenient as possible.
- enCore offers four different guard thickness and hardness options to accommodate every type of bruxism. They also offer guards for both top and bottom teeth.
- Because of the custom nature of the product, they fit snugly and comfortably; remember, this is essentially a dentist-quality product from the comfort of your home.
Cons:
- These custom guards are a bigger investment than standard mouthguards, so if something goes wrong in the fitting process starting over can be more of a hassle.
Encore Guards
While the majority of the mouthguard for teeth grinding market is low-cost, at-home moldable options, there are some companies offering professional-grade guards that requires a two-step process. First, you receive a mold kit, then you send it to the company who creates a professional-grade custom mouthguard for you. enCore’s mouthguards are our favorites in the professional category for their quality and options.
How We Chose the Best Mouthguards for Grinding
Mouthguards for grinding and clenching can be a great low-cost alternative to expensive dental options (though it’s always best to speak to a professional to make sure you’re choosing the right solution). They can be easily molded right in the comfort of your home, and because of how economical they are, should they not work the way you hope, they can be easily replaced. When we assembled our list, here are some factors we considered in deciding our favorite mouthguards.
Size and Thickness
Because these guards sit in your mouth overnight, it’s important that they stay in place and remain as unnoticeable as possible. Not only that, but they need to provide adequate thickness and support to prevent you from grinding your teeth. Our favorite mouthguards struck a balance of thickness and comfortability.
Safety and Hygienics
Again, these guards go in your mouth, so it’s a pretty big deal that they can be kept clean and won’t make you sick. We chose guards that were BPA and phthalate free, and came with retainer cases so they can be stored without risk of getting dirty when not in use.
Multiple Options in One Pack
For many people, having a pack of multiple guards of the same size is ideal; you’re essentially just getting backups for the mouthguard you plan to use. If you’re getting mouthguards for your family, or your partner, having a multi-pack with different options is a great choice; so we took those needs into consideration when assembling our list.
Tips for Picking Mouthguards for Grinding
Everyone has a different tolerance when it comes to night guards. Some people can’t sleep with any amount of restriction in their mouths, while others can go the whole night without noticing a large piece of plastic in their mouths. The important thing is finding a guard that works best for you and your tolerance, as well as the severity of your grinding.
- Mouthguard Thickness: The standard thickness for night guards is around three millimeters; this size is generally geared towards those dealing with an intermediate amount of teeth grinding or clenching. If your problem is more severe, consider a thicker model mouthguard (which can run approximately six millimeters), or thinner if your problem is less severe or you have a low tolerance for night guards (you can find some as thin as one millimeter).
- Mouthguard Size: The most common complaint about mouthguards is there’s too much excess material and it makes them uncomfortable or unwearable. If you’re worried that a standard-sized guard might be too big, consider a multi-sized pack that contains larger and smaller options so you can choose what works best for you.
Recapping the Best Mouthguards for Grinding
Grinding and clenching are common problems that affect a huge number of people. And while dentists and doctors are an important first step to getting to the root cause of an issue, mouthguards can be a great low-cost option to preventing potential damage to your teeth and help you make it through the night comfortably.
FAQs
Do mouthguards help with teeth grinding?
The short answer is yes, mouthguards provide a cushioned barrier between your teeth which stops grinding and clenching. The quality of mouthguard, however, can have other effects. For example, more inexpensive, sports-style mouthguards can help with bruxism, but might have adverse effects on teeth alignment, whereas more expensive, custom guards can actually help with straightening.
What is the best mouthguard for teeth grinding?
With the plethora of mouthguard options on the market, it’s hard to say with certainty what the “best” is, because everyone will have different needs. In reality, there are two categories of mouthguards for grinding, cheaper sports mouthguards and more expensive custom guards. If you are willing to spend more, custom mouthguards can provide help with bruxism while also promoting proper teeth alignment. On the custom level, we like the guards from enCore. On the sports level, we’ve found the ConfiDental moldable guards to be a great lower cost option.
How much is a mouth guard for grinding teeth?
If purchased through a dentist, a bruxism night guard can cost upwards of $500. Sports mouthguards can be as little as $10 for a pack of four guards, and over-the-counter custom dental guards can cost between $100 and $200.
