Which Dental Guard Is Best for You?

If you’re suffering from bruxism or teeth grinding, wearing a dental guard at night can help protect your teeth from damage.

An effective mouth guard should fit well, be comfortable, durable, easy to clean, and should not restrict your breathing or speech. You should also look for one that is BPA- and latex-free.

But with so many types of dental guards available, including custom, boil or no-boil dental guards, which is best for you?

There are three main types of dental guards:

1. Ready to wear: These dental guards are pre-formed, inexpensive and ready to pop in your mouth. You can find them at almost any general retailer or sporting goods store. While convenient, they have some drawbacks, including the fit. You can’t do much to adjust the fit if they are too big. One size does not fit all when it comes to mouths! They also are bulky, make it hard to talk and breath, and the level of protection is not great.
2. Boil and bite: These offer a better fit than ready-to-wear guards because they are made from thermoplastic material that you place in hot water to soften, then place in your mouth so it can mold to your teeth. This type of guard fits your mouth better, but the average moldable dental guard uses boiling water as hot as 212°F. Putting a hot piece of plastic in your mouth may not be for everyone.
3. Custom-fitted: These guards are fitted, custom-designed and made in a dental office or a professional laboratory based on your dentist’s instructions. First, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material. Because of the customization, these specially made mouth guards are usually more expensive than the other types. They will cost you a few hundred dollars, but if you can afford it, they provide the most comfort and protection.

Choose which type of dental guard is best for you based on your needs and comfort. Also consider the SleepRight No-Boil Dental Guard line. It offers patented auto-fit technology that eliminates the hassle of boiling or microwaving for fitting. Designed by a dentist, these guards are ready to wear right out of the package and are BPA- and latex-free. The SleepRight No-Boil line of dental guards, including Dura-Comfort, Ultra-Comfort, Select-Comfort and Secure-Comfort, feature bite-pad technology that provides a perfect fit without using heat. The bite pads adjust to fit all sizes and swivel to match all bite angles.

If you suffer from Bruxism, check out SleepRight’s no-boil dental guards for your nightly teeth grinding and clenching habit at www.sleepright.com/dental-guards.