Will a night guard stop my teeth grinding?
A guard protects your teeth. It may not stop bruxism, the grinding or clenching itself. Stress is the most common cause, says the NHS. So part of the fix starts away from your mouth.
On this page
Does a night guard stop teeth grinding?
There’s not enough evidence that it does. The NHS says a mouth guard or splint is worn at night to protect your teeth from damage.
Think of it as a shin pad. It takes the knocks so your teeth don’t. It may not change how often you get kicked.
A Cochrane review of 5 trials found not enough evidence that a splint treats grinding in your sleep. It said there may be some benefit for tooth wear.
| Question | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Does it protect my teeth? | Yes. The NHS says it protects your teeth from damage. |
| Does it stop the grinding? | Not shown. Cochrane found not enough evidence that it treats sleep grinding. |
| Does it help tooth wear? | Maybe. Cochrane says there may be some benefit. |
| Who makes one? | A dentist can make one to fit your upper or lower teeth. |
So a guard is the shin pad. The rest of this page is about the kick.
Worn teeth or a sore jaw? Book a dentist and ask whether a guard is right for you.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the medical word for grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. The NHS says it can happen while you’re awake or asleep.
| Kind | What happens | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Grinding or clenching while you sleep. A partner may hear it. | About 13% of adults say they do it often. |
| Awake | Teeth touching or clenched, or the jaw braced, in the day. | 22% to 31% of adults in two studies. |
Sources: Manfredini 2013; Lobbezoo 2018
Those numbers come from people reporting it themselves, so treat them as rough.
Experts agree that in otherwise healthy people it’s a behaviour, not a disorder. The NHS says treatment is not always needed.
The NHS says it can cause a painful jaw, worn or broken teeth, sensitive teeth, lost teeth or fillings, headaches, earache and disturbed sleep.
A sore jaw can lead to temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a problem with how your jaw joint moves. It’s not usually serious and generally gets better on its own.
Check yourself now: are your teeth touching? Apart from when you eat, the NHS says your teeth should be apart.
Why do I grind my teeth?
It’s not always clear. The NHS says grinding is often linked to:
- stress and anxiety, the most common cause
- sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea (breathing that stops and starts as you sleep)
- medicines for sleep problems, depression or anxiety
- smoking
- lots of alcohol or caffeine
That first line is the part away from your mouth. If you clench more in a hard week, start with ways to manage stress.
On sleep apnoea, a 2022 review found the link in adults can’t be confirmed yet. Loud snoring is still worth raising, and our sleep apnoea guide covers the signs.
Think a medicine plays a part? Ask your GP. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.
How to stop grinding your teeth
The NHS advice works on the causes and on the pain.
Six NHS steps for teeth grinding
- Find ways to relax, such as breathing exercises, music and regular exercise.
- Go to bed at the same time every night, relax before bed, and keep your bedroom dark and quiet.
- Don’t smoke, and don’t drink too much alcohol or caffeine.
- For jaw pain or swelling, hold an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel to it for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have jaw pain or swelling.
- Skip gum and hard foods while your teeth or jaw hurt, and keep up dental check-ups.
Source: NHS: teeth grinding
For the sleep steps, see sleep hygiene. For the drinks, see caffeine and sleep and alcohol and sleep.
Pick one step for tonight. A fixed bedtime is the easiest place to start.
Which mouth guard is best for grinding?
The NHS describes guards a dentist makes to fit precisely over your upper or lower teeth. None of the studies we read compared these with guards you buy in a shop.
Soft or hard? A 2026 review found both kinds changed sleep quality, whatever the design or material. In one trial of 43 adults, a cheaper mixed splint did about as well as a hard one, but wore down faster.
Who helps with what
- 1
Dentist
Tooth damage, sensitive teeth, pain in your jaw, face or ear, or a partner hears you grind.
- 2
Guard or splint
Worn at night to protect your teeth.
- 3
GP
Help with stress, anxiety, smoking, alcohol or drugs.
- 4
Jaw help
For TMD, a GP may suggest a physiotherapist for jaw exercises, or a psychologist if stress makes the pain worse.
Sources: NHS: teeth grinding; NHS: TMD
Already bought one? Take it to your next check-up and ask your dentist how it fits.
When to speak to a GP
See a GP if:
- You need help with a cause such as stress, anxiety, smoking, drinking too much or taking drugs.
- You think a medicine for sleep, depression or anxiety plays a part.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:
- You can’t eat or drink, or have vision problems such as double vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- You have jaw clicking, popping or grinding noises, a jaw that won’t open fully or locks, or pain around your jaw, ear or the side of your head.
- You have frequent, severe headaches, or pain or tenderness at the side of your head or on the scalp.
See a dentist if you grind your teeth and have tooth damage, sensitive teeth or pain in your jaw, face or ear. Also see one if a partner says you grind in your sleep, or if you’re worried about your child grinding their teeth.