If you are waking up with a sore jaw, a dull headache, or sensitive teeth for no obvious reason, you might be dealing with bruxism—the clinical term for unconsciously grinding or clenching your teeth, also known as teeth clenching. It’s a surprisingly common issue for many Wellingtonians, and we want to reassure you that a custom night guard offers a simple, effective way to protect your smile while you sleep.
What Is Bruxism and How Can a Night Guard Help?
Waking up with aches and pains is a frustrating way to start the day. If jaw soreness or a persistent headache has become a regular part of your morning, your body could be trying to tell you something about what’s happening after the lights go out.
That something is often bruxism. Bruxism can be caused by factors such as stress, dental misalignment, sleep apnea, and certain medications. Think of it as your jaw muscles putting in an unauthorised night shift, clamping down with incredible force on your teeth, jaws, temporomandibular joint, and the surrounding muscles. This clenching and grinding can happen during the day (awake bruxism), but it’s most common at night while you’re sleeping.
Globally, it’s estimated that sleep bruxism affects about 21% of people, while awake bruxism impacts around 23%. While specific New Zealand data is hard to come by, we know from our experience here at City Dentists that it’s a frequent concern for both adults and children in our Wellington community, making it one of the most common issues we help our patients with.
Common Signs of Bruxism You Might Recognise
Because it often happens while you’re asleep, many people don’t realise they have bruxism until a partner hears the grinding sounds at night, or their dentist points out the tell-tale signs of wear. The effects can be subtle at first but can cause real problems if left to continue over time, especially in cases of excessive teeth grinding. Bruxism can affect the upper teeth and front teeth, leading to visible damage such as chipping or flattening.
Here’s a quick look at some of the most common symptoms people notice.
| Symptom | How It Feels | Why It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Persistent Headaches | A dull, constant ache that often starts in your temples. | The jaw muscles are connected to other muscle groups around your head and neck. |
| Jaw and Facial Pain | Your jaw muscles feel tired, tight, or sore, especially right after waking up. | Your muscles are getting a serious workout all night long without any rest. |
| Tooth Sensitivity or Damage | Sensitivity to hot or cold, or visible signs like flattened, chipped teeth, broken teeth, or damaged fillings. Chipping or flattening of the front teeth is common. Excessive wear can also occur over time. | The immense pressure wears away the protective enamel layer of your teeth and can damage existing dental work. |
| Disturbed Sleep | Feeling unrested even after a full night’s sleep, or your partner complaining of noise. You may wake with headaches, jaw pain, or neck aches. Bruxism can disrupt your sleep patterns, making it harder to feel rested. | The sheer force of clenching can be enough to disrupt your natural sleep cycles and affect overall sleep quality. |
It’s really important to get these signs checked out early. Left unmanaged, the long-term impact of grinding can be significant, including excessive wear, chipped teeth, broken teeth, and damaged fillings. Bite splints and night guards are protective devices that can help prevent further damage. To get a better sense of the potential issues, you can read more about the dangers of grinding your teeth in our detailed article.
At City Dentists, our first step is always to listen. We provide a calm, reassuring environment where you can discuss your symptoms without feeling rushed or judged. Our goal is to find a solution that protects your health and brings you relief.
A custom-fitted night guard is the most effective and widely recommended tool for managing bruxism. It’s important to know that it doesn’t stop the grinding reflex itself, but it acts as a crucial protective barrier between your teeth. Bite splints are another option for protecting your teeth from excessive teeth grinding.
This small device absorbs the damaging forces, preventing further tooth wear and helping your overworked jaw muscles to finally relax. A night guard promotes muscle relaxation, which can relieve jaw tension and neck aches, and supports healthier sleep patterns. It’s a simple, proactive step towards preserving your smile and, just as importantly, waking up feeling refreshed.
How a Custom Night Guard Protects Your Smile
Think of it like a dedicated bodyguard for your teeth, one that works tirelessly all night long to keep them safe. That’s really the best way to describe what a custom-fitted dental night guard does. A night guard prevents damage by acting as a barrier between your teeth, especially important for those experiencing excessive teeth forces from severe bruxism. Dental night guards are dental devices and dental appliances designed to prevent teeth grinding and treat teeth grinding during sleep.
This small, precisely crafted device creates a soft but incredibly durable barrier between your upper and lower teeth. When worn at night, it helps prevent teeth grinding by absorbing the immense pressure that would otherwise cause some serious harm. The night guard works by opening the jaws slightly to relieve pressure on the TMJ. Dentists may make necessary adjustments to custom night guards to ensure a perfect fit and maximum comfort.
While mouth guards and sports mouth guards are used to protect teeth during athletic activities, dental guards and custom night guards are specifically designed for nighttime use to address bruxism. Mouth guards, sports mouth guards, and dental guards all fall under the broader category of dental appliances, but custom night guards are considered the best solution for bruxism due to their tailored fit and effectiveness.
Shielding Your Teeth from Damage
First and foremost, the job of a night guard for bruxism—also known as a dental guard or bite splint—is protection. It’s a straightforward mission. The forces you exert during grinding can be strong enough to literally wear down your tooth enamel, which is the hard, protective outer layer of your teeth.
Once that enamel is gone, it’s gone for good. It doesn’t grow back, leaving the more sensitive inner layers of your teeth exposed. This is where you run into problems like increased sensitivity, decay, and even cracks or fractures. Dental guards, including bite splints, effectively shield your enamel, preserving the strength and integrity of your smile. They also do a great job of protecting expensive dental work like crowns, veneers, and fillings from being damaged—including preventing damaged fillings caused by grinding.
A custom night guard acts like a shock absorber for your entire jaw system. It doesn’t just protect the teeth; it dissipates the harmful forces before they can strain your muscles and jaw joint, bringing the whole system back into a more relaxed state.
Relieving Your Aching Jaw Muscles
Bruxism puts an enormous amount of strain on your jaw muscles—the masseter muscles—and can also affect the jaws and temporomandibular joint. By preventing your teeth from locking together and grinding, a night guard encourages these constantly overworked muscles to finally relax. It works by opening the jaws slightly, which relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint and promotes muscle relaxation for the jaw.
This muscle relaxation can have a wonderfully positive ripple effect. Many of our Wellington patients tell us they notice a significant drop in their chronic morning headaches, neck pain, neck aches, and facial soreness after they start consistently wearing their guard. By giving your jaws a much-needed break, you allow the entire system to recover overnight. This can be especially helpful if you’re already dealing with discomfort, and we have some helpful advice on managing toothache pain while you wait for a more permanent solution.
Ultimately, you can think of it as a proactive investment in your future comfort and dental health. Instead of constantly reacting to pain and fixing damage, a night guard helps you prevent it from ever happening. Here at City Dentists, we see it as a key tool in helping our patients maintain a healthy, pain-free smile for years to come.
Custom-Fit vs. Over-the-Counter Guards
When you realise you need a night guard for bruxism, you’ll quickly find there are two main paths you can take: a professionally crafted, custom-fit guard from a dentist (often called a custom night guard or custom dental guard), or a generic ‘boil-and-bite’ mouth guard from the chemist. Both are types of dental guards, which are dental appliances designed to protect your teeth from grinding and clenching during sleep. The lower price of an over-the-counter option can be tempting, but it’s crucial to understand the vast differences in comfort, protection, and long-term safety. Custom night guards are tailored to your mouth and may require necessary adjustments by your dentist to ensure a proper fit before being worn. Over-the-counter mouth guards, while more affordable, may not offer the same level of fit or protection.
It’s also important to note that mouth guards come in different types, including sports mouth guards, which are worn during athletic activities to prevent dental injuries. Choosing the right dental appliance isn’t just about protecting your teeth—it’s about making sure you don’t accidentally cause other problems down the track.
The Problem with a Poor Fit
Over-the-counter dental devices, such as mouth guards, dental guards, and bite splints, are designed as a one-size-fits-most solution. The common ‘boil-and-bite’ types require you to soften them in hot water and then bite down to create a rough impression of your teeth. The problem? This process almost never creates an accurate or comfortable fit for these devices when worn.
These generic dental guards and mouth guards are often bulky and loose, feeling awkward in your mouth. This discomfort alone can make it harder to sleep, defeating the whole purpose. More importantly, an ill-fitting bite splint or guard can sometimes shift your bite or put uneven pressure on your jaw, potentially making jaw pain and TMJ issues worse, not better.
A night guard should fit snugly and securely, distributing pressure evenly without changing your natural bite. If it’s loose or makes you clench even more to keep it in place, it’s not providing the right kind of protection.
At City Dentists, our focus is on solutions that fix problems, not create new ones. This simple visual breaks down what you can expect from different types of night guards.
As you can see, a custom-fit guard delivers the highest level of comfort, which is essential for something you’ll be wearing every single night.
Why a Custom-Fit Guard Is the Gold Standard
A custom-fit night guard, often referred to as a custom night guard or dental night guard, is in a completely different league. These dental guards are professionally made in a dental laboratory from precise physical impressions of your mouth, ensuring a personalized fit. During your fitting appointment, your dentist will check the fit and make any necessary adjustments for comfort and proper function before you take it home. Custom night guards, as well as other dental appliances like mouth guards, are designed to fit your teeth perfectly—and only your teeth.
To help you decide, here’s a straightforward comparison of the two main options.
Comparing Custom-Fit and Over-the-Counter Night Guards
| Feature | Custom Night Guard (from City Dentists) | Over-the-Counter (Boil-and-Bite) Dental Guards |
|---|---|---|
| Fit & Comfort | Perfectly moulded to your unique dental anatomy for a snug, barely-there feel. Custom night guards and other dental appliances are designed to be comfortably worn throughout the night. | Generic, bulky, and often loose. Can interfere with sleep and speech. |
| Protection | Distributes grinding forces evenly, protecting all teeth without altering your bite. Custom mouth guards, dental guards, and bite splints offer optimal protection against bruxism and clenching. | Uneven fit can concentrate pressure on certain teeth, potentially worsening issues. |
| Durability | Made from high-grade, resilient materials designed to last for many years. Custom night guards and dental appliances are more durable than standard options. | Softer plastic wears down quickly, often needing replacement in months. |
| Jaw Health | Designed to prevent negative impacts on the jaw joint (TMJ). | Poor fit can strain the jaw, potentially leading to or worsening TMJ disorders. |
| Cost | Higher initial investment, but a better long-term value due to durability and effectiveness. | Low upfront cost, but requires frequent replacement and offers inferior protection. |
Ultimately, a professionally made custom night guard or dental guard is an investment in your health, providing reliable protection that you can count on night after night. These dental appliances are worn to prevent damage from teeth grinding and clenching, and can be tailored for specific needs, including sports mouth guards for athletic activities or bite splints as an alternative for severe bruxism.
Here’s why a custom guard matters so much for our Wellington patients:
- Superior Comfort: Because it’s made just for you, a custom guard is thin, lightweight, and fits snugly. Most people adapt to wearing it within a few nights and soon forget it’s even there.
- Optimal Protection: The precise fit ensures the protective barrier is exactly where it needs to be, effectively absorbing the immense force of grinding across all your teeth.
- Unmatched Durability: Custom guards are made from high-quality, durable materials built to withstand the powerful forces of bruxism for years, not months.
While the initial investment is higher, a custom night guard is a safer and far more effective long-term solution. It’s an investment in preserving your tooth enamel, which—much like the role of fluoride in strengthening teeth—is essential for lifelong oral health. To learn more about protecting your enamel, feel free to explore our guide on what fluoride is and how it works. Our caring team at City Dentists is here to help you choose the best, safest option for your health.
The Gentle Process For Your Custom Night Guard
We get it. The idea of any dental procedure can feel a little daunting. That’s exactly why we’ve worked hard to make getting your custom night guard for bruxism as simple, comfortable, and stress-free as we possibly can. From the minute you step into our Wellington clinic, your comfort is our absolute focus.
We’ll walk you through each gentle step so you know precisely what to expect. During your visits, we create dental devices such as custom night guards and other dental appliances tailored to your needs. At the fitting, we make any necessary adjustments to ensure your custom night guard fits comfortably and functions properly. There are no long, drawn-out appointments—just two straightforward visits to get you on the path to a healthier smile and a much more restful sleep.
Your First Visit: A Relaxed Consultation and Impressions
Your journey starts with a relaxed chat with one of our friendly dentists. This is our chance to listen, understand your concerns, and answer any questions you have. We’ll make sure a night guard is the right move for you before we do anything else.
Then, we’ll take a highly precise impressions of your teeth. We know that dental anxiety is a real thing for many Kiwis. In fact, studies show it affects around 13.3% of the adult New Zealand population, and can be even higher in certain communities. By using gentle, advanced technology, we help make necessary treatments feel much more manageable. You can read more about the research on dental anxiety in New Zealand here.
Your Second Visit: The Perfect Fit
Once our dental lab has expertly crafted your custom night guard, you’ll pop back in for your second and final appointment. This visit is usually very quick.
Your comfort is our top priority. The final fitting is all about making sure your new dental night guard, custom night guards, or other dental appliances feel absolutely perfect—snug, secure, and ready to protect your smile without getting in the way of your sleep.
Your dentist will place the guard, checking the fit and feel. We’ll adjust your dental or custom night guard on the spot to ensure comfort and proper function. Our goal is for you to leave feeling confident that your guard will protect your teeth for years.
Night Guard Materials and Durability
When you protect your teeth from the effects of bruxism, the material used in your night guard can make all the difference. Not all night guards are created equally. Choosing the right material ensures maximum comfort, effective protection, and long-lasting relief from teeth grinding and clenching.
Caring for Your Night Guard Investment
Your custom night guard is a valuable piece of kit for your oral health, and with a little care, it’ll protect your smile for years to come. Keeping it clean and storing it correctly is the key to making sure it stays fresh, effective, and in great shape. The same cleaning and care routine applies to mouth guard, mouth guards, dental guards, and dental appliances, as all of these protective devices require regular maintenance to ensure hygiene and longevity.
Think of it this way: you wear your night guard at night, and it works hard all night long, taking the brunt of the force from grinding and clenching. It definitely deserves a quick clean in the morning. A simple, consistent routine is all it takes to keep it in top condition and stop bacteria from building up.
Your Easy Cleaning Routine
Keeping your night guard clean is incredibly straightforward. Here’s a simple daily and weekly plan using things you probably already have at home. The same cleaning routine applies to your mouth guard, mouth guards, dental guards, and dental appliances.
- Daily Rinse & Brush: When you take your guard out each morning after wearing it at night, rinse it immediately under cool water. This washes away any saliva or plaque from the night. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush (not the one you use for your teeth). It’s best to avoid toothpaste, as its abrasive ingredients can create tiny scratches on the surface.
- Weekly Deep Clean: Once a week, you can give your guard, mouth guard, dental guard, or dental appliance a more thorough clean using an over-the-counter denture cleaning tablet. Just pop the guard in a glass of water with the tablet and let it do its thing for the recommended time. This helps shift any stubborn buildup and keeps it feeling fresh.
Looking after your night guard properly is just as vital as caring for other dental work. Much like the simple steps needed for looking after your dental fillings, a little daily attention really does go a long way.
A crucial tip: always use cool or lukewarm water for cleaning. Hot water can actually warp the material of your custom night guard, causing it to lose its perfect, snug fit.
Finally, storing your guard correctly is the last piece of the puzzle. After cleaning and letting it dry, always pop it back in the protective case we provide. This shields your night guard from airborne bacteria, prevents you from accidentally knocking it off the counter or damaging it, and keeps curious pets or children from getting to it. By following these simple steps, you’ll get the most out of your night guard for bruxism and ensure it continues to give you the best possible protection.
Common Questions About Night Guards for Bruxism
Deciding to get a dental night guard for bruxism is a fantastic move for protecting your teeth and jaws. Dental night guards, dental guards, mouth guards, bite splints, and other dental appliances treat and prevent teeth grinding. You wear these devices during sleep, and they work especially well when we make custom night guards for your unique bite. A night guard prevents excessive teeth grinding, clenching and grinding, and teeth clenching, which can otherwise lead to chipped teeth, broken teeth, damaged fillings, excessive wear, and even neck aches or jaw pain.
It’s totally normal to have a few questions before you jump in, and our Wellington team knows that feeling informed is the best way to feel confident about your care. We also offer sports mouth guards, which are a different type of dental appliance designed to protect the upper teeth, front teeth, and lips during athletic activities.
To give you that clarity, we’ve put together some straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often from our patients, including information about symptoms like waking up with jaw pain, disrupted sleep patterns, and the importance of muscle relaxation and how a night guard promotes muscle relaxation by positioning the jaws slightly to relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint. We also discuss causes such as certain medications and sleep apnea, and the importance of necessary adjustments for a comfortable fit.
How Much Does a Custom Night Guard Cost in Wellington?
It’s true that a custom-fit night guard has a higher up-front cost than one you’d grab off the shelf at a chemist. The best way to think about it is as a long-term investment in avoiding much more expensive dental work down the road. The final price can vary a bit, as it depends on your unique needs and how complex the guard needs to be.
At City Dentists, we’re all about transparency. When you come in for a consultation, we’ll give you a clear, detailed quote with no hidden fees or surprises. This way, you can make a decision that works for your health and your budget, without any pressure from us.
Will a Night Guard Be Uncomfortable to Sleep With?
It’s a fair question—what will it feel like to have something in your mouth all night? You can expect a short adjustment period, maybe a few nights, as you get used to the new feeling. But this is exactly where the custom fit really shines.
We specifically design custom night guards to be comfortable when you wear them at night. We design them to be snug, and comfortable. They fit perfectly over your teeth, so you don’t get that bulky or intrusive feeling. Honestly, most of our patients tell us that after a little while, they barely even notice it’s there. Our goal is always maximum protection with minimal disruption to your sleep.
A common myth is that all night guards are big and clunky. A custom-made guard from a dentist is engineered for a barely-there feel. It fits so precisely that it just becomes part of your nightly routine, unlike the poor-fitting alternatives from a shop.
How Long Will My Custom Night Guard Last?
With the right care, City Dentists builds a high-quality, custom-made night guard to last for several years. We use professional-grade materials specifically designed to withstand the serious forces of bruxism, night after night.
Of course, the exact lifespan depends on how severe your grinding is. For some people, a guard might last five years or more. For others with more intense bruxism or excessive teeth grinding, they might start noticing signs of wear a bit sooner. During your regular check-ups, we’ll take a look at its condition and let you know if we spot any signs that it might be time for a replacement.
Can a Night Guard Stop Me from Grinding My Teeth?
That’s an excellent question, and it gets to the heart of what these dental devices do. A night guard prevents damage by stopping teeth grinding and treating it. While it is not a “cure” for clenching and grinding, a dental night guard, bite splints, dental guards, dental appliances, custom night guards, and other mouth guards act as protective shields. Their primary job is to absorb the excessive teeth grinding forces and stop damage before it happens to your jaws, temporomandibular joint, front teeth, upper teeth, and any dental work you have, such as fillings.
A night guard for bruxism is incredibly effective at managing the destructive symptoms of the condition. When worn, it protects you from:
- Enamel Erosion and Excessive Wear: It creates a barrier so your upper and lower teeth can’t rub against each other, preventing excessive wear and protecting that crucial protective layer.
- Cracks, Chipped Teeth, Broken Teeth, and Damaged Fillings: The cushioning effect shields your teeth from the immense pressure of excessive teeth grinding and teeth clenching that can cause them to chip, crack, or break, and helps prevent damaged fillings.
- Jaw Strain, Neck Aches, and Muscle Tension: By positioning the jaws slightly and relieving pressure on the temporomandibular joint, the night guard promotes muscle relaxation, easing the tension that leads to morning pain, headaches, and neck aches. This also helps improve sleep patterns and overall muscle relaxation.
People who wake with headaches, jaw pain, or worn teeth may be experiencing bruxism, which stress, certain medications, or sleep apnea can cause.Sports mouth guards and mouth guards also protect against injuries to the lips, front teeth, and upper teeth during athletic activities.
If you get a custom night guard, your dentist will make any necessary adjustments for comfort and proper fit.
On top of that, we can also chat with you about potential underlying causes, like stress, sleep habits, or sleep apnea, and suggest other strategies to help reduce the grinding reflex itself.
Will My Gums Be Affected by Wearing a Night Guard?
A properly fitted custom night guard, along with other dental appliances, dental guards, and mouth guards, shouldn’t cause any problems for your gums when you wear them correctly. The design of these dental guards and mouth guards is very precise, ensuring they fit snugly over the teeth without pushing on or irritating your gum line. The key, however, is maintaining great oral hygiene. It’s really important to keep both your teeth and your night guard or other dental appliances clean to stop any plaque from building up. Poor hygiene or improperly worn dental guards could lead to gum issues, but this is completely preventable with good care.
For a deeper dive into gum health, you might find our article on what you need to know about gingivitis helpful. It’ll give you a better understanding of how to keep your gums in top shape.
Ready to take the next step towards a pain-free morning and a protected smile? The friendly, expert team at City Dentists is here to answer any other questions you may have and guide you through the simple, comfortable process of getting a custom night guard.
Book your consultation with us today at https://www.citydentists.co.nz.