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Many kids and adults unknowingly clench or grind their teeth. This condition is called bruxism or teeth grinding, which can happen at any time of the day.
There is no known cure for nighttime teeth grinding. However, many dental professionals recommend wearing night guards to keep your teeth safe while sleeping.
Bruxism causes constant friction between your upper and lower teeth. This friction causes the enamel—the teeth’s hard protective surface—to gradually break down.
Enamel loss exposes the soft inner layers of your teeth. It can lead to serious dental problems over time, such as:
Sleep bruxism is more harmful than grinding teeth when you’re awake. Since it occurs at night after you fall asleep, you won’t be able to control it.
To protect your teeth at night, you can choose from over-the-counter and custom-made guards to protect your teeth. They’re more convenient and affordable than the night guards provided in dental clinics.
To help you decide, we compared different brands and picked our top recommendations.
To find the best teeth guards for nighttime grinding, we:
Here is a comparison of the best dental guards for night grinding:
| Nightguard | Mouthguard Type | Cost | Materials | Delivery Time | Guarantee | Replacement Warranty |
| Pro Teeth Guard | Custom | Starts at $169.99 | Soft and/or hard acrylic or soft vinyl | 7 to 11 days | 60 days | 1 year |
| JS Dental Lab Night Guards | Custom | Starts at $125 | PET and EVA | 7 to 10 days | 1 year | 1 year |
| Remi | Custom | Starts at $229 | Dental-grade hard-soft plastic | 2 weeks | 45 days | 45 days |
| Sporting Smiles | Custom | Starts at $90 | Soft EVA or soft and/or hard laminate | 10 to 15 days | 30 days | None |
| DenTek | Over-the-counter | Starts at $16.44 | EVA co-polymer | 5 to 10 days | 30 days | 6 months to 1 year |
| Cheeky | Custom | Starts at $129 | Soft thermoplastic or hard acrylic | 7 to 14 days | 30 days | None |
| Chomper Labs | Custom | Starts at $149 | Co-polyester, TPU, or EVA | 6 to 8 days | 100 days | 60 days |
| Clear Club | Custom | Starts at $158 | Hard acrylic with soft inner layer | 5 days | 30 days | None |
You should consider wearing a teeth guard every night if you have nighttime bruxism. Some signs of night bruxism include waking up with:
If you experience these symptoms, you should see a dentist who can evaluate your condition and have a night guard made in the shape of your teeth.
But if you find professional dental guards too expensive or inconvenient, you can opt for over-the-counter and custom-fitted night guards sold online for a cheaper price.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at our top recommendations. This includes their pros and cons, some user reviews, why we recommend them, and when to consider other brands.
Why Choose Pro Teeth Guard? Pro Teeth Guard is our top customized night guard because it protects your teeth longer than most brands.
Nightguards get damaged over time and have to be replaced. Pro Teeth Guard offers one free replacement in case you break, crack, or grind through your guard within a year of purchase.
If you’re not satisfied with the fit of your night guard, you have two options. You can request a 110% refund or get free adjustments within 60 days of receiving your order.
Pro Teeth Guard offers 3 night guards based on your bruxism symptoms:
You can choose from upper and lower teeth guards. Each guard is also available in two sizes (adult male and female) and can be further customized to fit you.
| Cost | $169.99 to $209.99 per tray |
| Guarantees1 | 60-day money-back guarantee or free replacements and adjustments1-year replacement warranty for damaged mouthguard |
| Financing | Klarna: Biweekly and monthly plans. Starts at $42.49 to $52.49/2 wks for 2 mos. |
| Subscriptions | None |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used2 | Soft and/or hard acrylic or soft vinyl |
| Delivery Time | 7 to 11 days after the company receives your teeth impressions |
Its mouthguards have the same quality as those offered in dental clinics. They’re made in a professional dental lab (San Diego County, CA) that also produces them for dentists.
Read our full review of Pro Teeth Guard
Why Choose JS Dental Lab? JS Dental Lab lets you personalize your night guard based on your preferences and needs. To start off, you can choose from clear or colored trays.
If you find its acrylic night guards too rigid, they can create a new set that combines different materials to make it more comfortable.
JS Dental’s Ultimate Protection kit provides the most customization. You can pick the material (hard acrylic with or without a soft inner layer) and thickness (3mm or 4mm).
The company has 5 night guards available:
| Cost | $125 to $205 per tray |
| Guarantees4 | 365-day return and refund policy or get free adjustments and replacements12-month one-time replacement warranty for damaged or lost mouthguards |
| Financing | Shop Pay: Biweekly and monthly plans. Starts at $31.25 to $46.25/2 wks for 2 mos. |
| Subscriptions | None |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used5 | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) |
| Delivery Time | 7 to 10 days after the company receives your teeth impressions |
JS Dental Lab is a trusted brand that has been making dental products for over 20 years. Its night guards are made of premium dental-grade materials from the U.S. and Germany.
Read our full review of JS Dental Lab Night Guards
Why Choose Remi? Remi is the best custom mouthguard if you’ve never worn one, but want to start protecting your teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism.
You only need a top or bottom guard (not both) to keep your teeth safe from grinding. With Remi, you can choose to receive both guards or two of each with your order.
It’s a great choice for beginners who aren’t sure which one they’d like. People who prefer switching between a top and bottom teeth guard may also like it.
You can purchase Remi’s night guards alone or bundle with other products:
| Cost | $229 for 2 trays |
| Guarantees6 | 45-day replacement guarantee |
| Financing | Shop Pay: $57.25 to be paid in 4 interest-free payments. |
| Subscriptions | Remi Club: $189/6 mos |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used7 | Dental-grade hard-soft plastic |
| Delivery Time | 2 weeks after you receive a confirmation email from the company |
Remi was founded in 2019. The company offers a range of dental care products, such as night guards, retainers, and teeth whitening kits.
Read our full review of Remi Night Guard
Why Choose Sporting Smiles? Sporting Smiles is the go-to brand if you want affordable night guards. While most guards cost $120, the company offers them for about $90 to $105 each.
Sporting Smiles also lets you purchase several mouthguards for a discounted price. Instead of paying the standard price, you only have to pay $47 to $62 for every additional order.
For an extra $20, you can have your teeth impressions digitally scanned. The company will keep these 3D scans for life, so you can reorder any time you need more night guards.
Sporting Smiles currently has 5 night guards. Each one provides a different level of comfort, protection, and visibility. You get to choose a guard that best fits your needs:
| Cost | $90 to $105 per tray |
| Guarantees8 | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Subscriptions | None |
| Financing | None |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used9 | Soft ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), soft interior laminate, and/or hard exterior laminate |
| Delivery Time | 10 to 15 days after the company receives your teeth impressions |
Sporting Smiles was established in 2009. It provides high-quality mouthguards that are more affordable than what you would typically get from dentists.
Read our full review of Sporting Smiles
Why Choose DenTek? DenTek has a selection of over-the-counter night guards. You can use them straight out of the box or within minutes of making them. It’s a fast and cheap way to protect your teeth.
The brand offers do-it-yourself night guard kits that you can order online. These DIY kits contain everything you need to create your own guard at home, from materials to step-by-step instructions.
DenTek has 3 nightguards ideal for teeth grinding:
| Cost | $16.64 to $38.99 |
| Guarantees11,12 | 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee6-month to 1-year product guarantee with 1 free replacement |
| Financing | None |
| Subscriptions | None |
| Mouthguard Type | Over-the-counter |
| Materials Used13 | Food-grade ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) co-polymer |
| Delivery Time | 2 to 3 days after placing your order |
DenTek has been providing oral care products since 1984. Its over-the-counter guards are cheap alternatives to custom-fit night guards in case you lose or damage them.
We only recommend DenTek for temporary protection against teeth grinding. For safe and long-term use, you should opt for custom guards.
Why Choose Cheeky? Cheeky Night Guard is often praised for its comfort and quality. Some customers say it feels better than the professional guards from a dentist’s office.
Like most custom guards, you’ll be asked to take teeth impressions at home. But instead of making guards out of these molds, the company will take 3D scans of your impressions.
Cheeky will use this 3D model to digitally print a mouthguard in the replica of your teeth. The process helps ensure a comfortable fit.
There are two ways to buy a Cheeky night guard:
| Cost | $129 per tray |
| Guarantees14 | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Financing | None |
| Subscriptions | Cheeky Club: $159/6 mos or $199/3 mos |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used15 | Soft thermoplastic or hard acrylic |
| Delivery Time | 7 to 14 days after the company receives your teeth impressions |
Cheeky has been making safe, high-quality, and affordable night guards since 2018. Its products are manufactured in the same labs that create guards for dentists.
Read our full review of Cheeky Night Guard
Why Choose Chomper Labs? Chomper Labs is known for its quick processing. It can ship your teeth impression kit and night guard faster than most brands.
During checkout, you can “fast track” the creation of your custom-fit guard. They’ll make it within 24 hours of receiving your impressions and deliver it in the next 3 to 4 days.
You can also upgrade your shipping to speed up the delivery of your orders.
Chomper Labs has four night guards available:
| Cost | $149 to $169 |
| Guarantees16 | 100-day refund or replacement policy60-day replacement warranty for damaged mouthguards |
| Financing | Klarna: Biweekly and monthly plans. Starts at $37.25 to $42.25/2 wks for 2 mos. |
| Subscriptions | None |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used17 | Co-polyester, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and/or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) |
| Delivery Time | 6 to 8 days after the company receives your teeth impressions |
Chomper Labs has been operating its full-service dental lab in California since 2018. You can request a fully customized night guard in the material and thickness you like.
Read our full review of Clear Club
Why Choose Clear Club? Clear Club makes it easy to get a new night guard, which can be a huge plus if you wear braces. You can get a fresh set each time your braces are adjusted.
The company offers a Renewal Plan so you can receive a custom-fit night guard every 3, 4, or 6 months. But you can also decide when they’ll ship your next tray.
Clear Club saves dental impressions so you don’t have to make one every time. If your dentist adjusts your braces, you can take a new impression and get a guard that fits your current teeth.
You’ll have four hybrid night guards to choose from:
| Cost | $158 to $170 |
| Guarantees18 | 30-day money-back guarantee for unused mouthguard kits100% satisfaction guarantee |
| Financing | None |
| Subscriptions | Clear Club Renewal Plan: $55 to $65/3 mos, $65 to $75/4 mos, or $85/6 mos |
| Mouthguard Type | Custom-fit |
| Materials Used19 | Hard acrylic with soft inner layer |
| Delivery Time | 5 days after the company receives and confirms your teeth impressions |
Clear Club was founded in 2018 and is based in Los Angeles. The company is dedicated to providing professional-grade night guards for reasonable prices.
Read our full review of Clear Club
When choosing a night guard, you generally have two options. You can buy an over-the-counter guard or have one custom-made to fit your teeth.
Each type of night guard has its advantages and disadvantages. Below is a quick guide to help with your decision:
A custom mouthguard is made to fit your teeth using dental-grade materials. It’s more comfortable and durable. It can also protect against light, moderate, and severe grinding.
Unlike over-the-counter guards, you can use them with braces or dental implants. You can get custom night guards from licensed dental professionals or online retailers:
These night guards are offered by dentists and orthodontists at dental clinics. They’re the most expensive and may cost you $300 to $1,000.
A dental professional will take your teeth impression and send it to a laboratory. The lab will then create your custom night guard and ship it back to the dentist, who will schedule your fitting.
These custom night guards are made in the same labs that produce professional dental guards. Each guard only costs $90 to $170, so they’re cheaper than what dentists offer.
Companies that provide them (such as Pro Teeth Night Guard, JS Dental Lab, Remi, and Sporting Smiles) use dentist-grade materials to create your fitted mouthguard.
You don’t have to see a dentist or orthodontist. You can buy an impression kit online, take your own dental impression, send it back, and wait for the delivery of your night guard.
These night guards are often made of cheap materials that quickly wear out. They can offer light protection but they’re not ideal for heavy teeth grinders or long-term use.
Most brands cost $20 to $25, which makes them cheaper than custom night guards. You can buy them from online stores like Amazon and retailers such as Walmart. There are 2 kinds:
We only recommend disposable night guards as an emergency option for short-term use (no more than a month). You can wear them while waiting for your custom guard.
Also known as stock night guards, they’re the most affordable and easiest to acquire. Unfortunately, they only come in one size and may not fit your teeth very well.
You can buy them in packs which include several single-use night guards. Each guard is worn overnight and thrown out the next day.
DIY night guards are more durable and can be worn for up to 3 months. However, dental professionals don’t recommend wearing them for extended periods.
They provide a better fit than disposable night guards. Each kit will include step-by-step instructions and thermoplastic molds that can be shaped into your teeth using heat.
Depending on the kit you have, you either have to place the mold in:
After heating, you have to bite down on the mold while it’s soft. Next, run the mold under cold water so it hardens again and becomes ready to use.
Each person’s teeth are unique, which is why most dentists recommend custom night guards. These guards are made to fit and give better protection against bruxism.
One can be made at a local dentist or orthodontist for $300 to $1,000. But if you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, you can order them online from the top brands:
These companies provide dentist-grade custom-fit night guards at an affordable price. You can get one for $90 to $170 (or at a discount if they offer a subscription).
Dental professionals don’t recommend using over-the-counter night guards for longer than a month. You should only use them for short-term protection from teeth grinding.
Our team consulted dental professionals on factors we should consider.
Using this expert-guided information, we developed criteria that would help us choose the best night guards for sleep bruxism.
After spending 250+ hours on research and testing, we evaluated and compared the top night guard brands using these criteria:
It depends. Most insurance plans don't cover night guards. However, if your dentist classifies it as a medical need, your insurance may cover a part of the cost.
In most cases, yes. Many brands and dentists accept funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spendings Account (FSA).
This includes brands that offer over-the-counter and custom night guards.
The best way to clean it is to follow the instructions included with your kit. You can also follow our guide on how to care for your night guard.
In most cases, you’ll need to rinse and brush your guard daily with a gentle cleaning agent. Remember to keep it dry and stored properly when not in use.
Night guards also require deep cleaning (at least once a month) using a denture-cleaning solution, mouthwash, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
This depends on the type of your night guard, how often you wear it, and the severity of your teeth grinding. Generally, you want to follow the brand’s recommendations.
Here’s what you can expect on replacement times:
Professional guard from your dentist — Every 1 to 5 years
Custom guard that you bought online — Every 1 to 2 years
Disposable night guard — Has to be replaced daily
Boil-and-bite guards — Every 3 to 6 months
Microwave-and-bite guards — Every 3 to 6 months
The processing time for custom guards depends on your dentist and the dental lab.
Some direct-to-consumer brands take as little as one week because they have their own laboratory to create the dental appliances. Those that require third-party labs may take longer.
A night guard acts as a physical barrier between the top and bottom teeth. It prevents them from coming into contact when you grind your teeth at night. In turn, this protects your tooth enamel.
It depends on your personal preference and dentist’s recommendations. You can only wear one night guard at a time (either on your upper or lower teeth) and never both at once.
Mouth guards aren’t the same as night guards. A mouth guard is usually made of a thick but soft material that absorbs impact. You wear it during contact sports to protect your teeth from injury.
A night guard is typically made of thin but durable materials. It’s something you wear at night before you sleep. It’s meant to protect your teeth if you have bruxism.
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