Night guards: what they do, and what they don't
Do You Know? For patients.
A night guard is one of the most common treatments for teeth grinding. But many people expect it to stop the grinding. It usually does not. Its main job is to protect your teeth while you sleep.
What the research shows
A night guard puts a smooth layer between your upper and lower teeth, so the force goes into the guard instead of wearing down enamel, crowns or veneers.
Studies show it does not reliably reduce the muscle activity behind grinding. The grinding may continue; the damage is what drops.
Some studies found better sleep quality in people with sleep bruxism after they started wearing a guard.
For jaw pain linked to night grinding, guards and muscle injections gave similar pain relief over the medium term, but only the guard protects the teeth.
Custom or shop-bought?
A custom guard is made from a scan or impression of your teeth, so it fits closely, stays in place and keeps your bite balanced.
Soft boil-and-bite guards from a pharmacy can feel bulky, wear through quickly and, for some people, encourage more chewing at night.
If you have crowns, veneers, implants or jaw pain, a guard should be planned and checked by a dentist.
What to do
Wear it every night and bring it to your check-ups so the fit and your bite can be checked.
Rinse it in cool water each morning, brush it gently and keep it dry in its case. Hot water can warp it.
If you snore loudly, wake up tired or someone notices pauses in your breathing, mention it. Grinding can be linked to sleep breathing problems, which need a different check.
A guard protects teeth. Managing stress, caffeine, alcohol and daytime clenching habits deals with the causes.
Not sure if you grind? Take the 2-minute self-check
Learn more: Teeth grinding and jaw pain
This article is general information and not a substitute for an examination.
References
Ferreira GF, Carletti TM, Gama LT, Magno MB, Maia LC, Rodrigues Garcia RCM. Influence of occlusal appliances on the masticatory muscle function in individuals with sleep bruxism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Oral Sci. 2024;132(2):e12979. doi:10.1111/eos.12979
Ferreira GF, Gama LT, Rodrigues Garcia RCM. Effect of occlusal appliances on the sleep of individuals with bruxism: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Cranio. 2026;44(1):59-70. doi:10.1080/08869634.2024.2444712
Aldosari LIN, Chauhan E, Kaur K, et al. Occlusal splints versus botulinum toxin for the management of clinical sequelae associated with adult sleep bruxism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cranio. 2026:1-17. doi:10.1080/08869634.2026.2683509
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