Night Guards
for Teeth Grinding

If you wake up with jaw stiffness, headaches, or worn-down teeth — or if your partner hears you grinding at night — a custom night guard protects your teeth from further damage and reduces jaw muscle pain. We assess at consultation and only recommend a guard when it is clinically indicated.

Drugstore boil-and-bite guards are bulky, do not fit precisely, often fall out at night, and wear through quickly. A custom hard acrylic guard is moulded to your teeth — slim, comfortable, and durable. It also protects against grinding forces that drugstore guards cannot.

A well-cared-for custom hard acrylic night guard typically lasts 3–5 years or longer. Cleaning daily and storing in its case extends life. Heavy grinders may go through them faster — we will assess at reviews.

A night guard does not stop the grinding itself, but it protects your teeth from being worn down and absorbs the forces that cause jaw muscle pain and headaches. Many patients report dramatically less morning soreness within the first 1–2 weeks of wear.

Two visits — usually about 1–2 weeks apart. At the first visit we take an impression or digital scan; at the second we fit the finished guard, demonstrate care, and check comfort.

Rinse with cool water after wearing, brush gently with a soft toothbrush (no toothpaste — too abrasive), and store in the case dry. A weekly soak in a denture cleaning solution keeps it fresh. We give full guidance at the fitting.

In dental terms, a "night guard" is for grinding (bruxism) at night. A "mouth guard" is also commonly used to mean the same thing — both refer to a custom-fitted appliance worn over the teeth at night to protect against grinding forces. (Sports mouthguards are a different product.)