Can a Night Guard Shift Your Teeth? You have probably heard about night guards, but what are they exactly? This post will answer these questions and more.
Night Guards are devices that protect your teeth while you sleep by preventing them from grinding or clenching together. They can also treat conditions like bruxism, characterized by the clenching of the jaw muscles during sleep.
If you are a bruxer, night guards can help mitigate the damage your teeth go through from clenching. Night Guards also are beneficial for people who grind their teeth (bruxers and non-bruxers alike).
What is a night guard?
A night guard is a device that helps protect your teeth during sleep. It can also help you wake up with less pain and stiffness in the morning. There are many different types of night guards, so it’s important to consult with your dentist about which one will work best for you.
The material used to make a night guard is very thin and flexible, so it’s comfortable to wear while sleeping on either side or when lying on your back. You can even choose from several colors! The color may not be as important as the materials used, but it never hurts to have some variety in life!
How does Night Guard work?
A night guard is typically made of hard plastic or thermoplastic material that will keep your teeth from grinding or coming into contact with one another. It can also help you wake up without pain and stiffness!
What are Night Guard Benefits?
There are many benefits to wearing a night guard:
- Lowering the risk for tooth decay by not having teeth come into contact at night;
- Reducing sensitivity because it breaks down plaque acids on top of the teeth during sleep;
- Maintaining good oral health while sleeping so there’s less need for treatments such as braces;

Finally, reducing snoring because it keeps airways open. That’s right! Your dentist might just be able to solve all your problems with one simple solution!
Types of night guards
There are four types of night guards:
Stock night guard
Which is made by the dental office and has been adjusted to your mouth;
Boil and bite night guards
It requires you to boil a piece of rubber before shaping it around your teeth with your fingers for custom fitting;
Custom fitted night guards.
Custom fitted night guards are shaped using impressions taken of the upper or lower jaw while protected under a soft material. This type can be expensive, so it typically only lasts two years.
Temporary Night Guards
These are performed in a special way from thin plastic resin materials such as acrylics, polycarbonates, silicone elastomers, or thermoplastics (or copolymers) – these last about 12 months per application but may not provide as much protection as the other types.
How to choose the right type of night guard for you?
Many factors go into choosing the right type of night guard, including cost and durability.
- Is your mouth open or closed during sleep?
- Do you grind your teeth at night (bruxism)?
- What is the shape of your upper jaw?
Can a Night Guard Shift Your Teeth?
Yes! But this only applies to lower dentures, not mandibles, because no teeth are on them to shift. You should be careful when wearing these as they can cause major damage if worn too long without taking breaks from use.

There have been cases where people wore their guards for so long while sleeping that they ended up eating away at the bone structure in their mouths which caused serious dental problems.
How Night Guard Shifts Your Teeth?
Teeth shift for a number of reasons. A common reason is that your teeth are not properly aligned. This can result from trauma to the mouth or jaw, tooth decay, an accident, or even grinding and clenching your teeth at night.
You may also notice crooked teeth, gaps in between them, misaligned bite issues, gum recession from over-brushing/flossing too hard, and more. Luckily there’s a solution!
Night Guard therapy has been shown to correct these issues by stopping excessive wear on the teeth while you sleep which helps keep them in a place where they belong. So they’re nice and straight when you wake up each morning!
Why Night Guard Shift Your Teeth?
When you sleep, your teeth are under a lot of pressure. This is because the muscles in your jaw relax, allowing the lower jaw to drop slightly. When this happens, it can cause a misalignment of your teeth called the “Nightguard shift”.
Night guard dentistry is an orthodontic technique that is used to prevent tooth wear and damage caused by nighttime bruxism (teeth grinding) or clenching while sleeping. With this treatment, patients wear a special mouthpiece that prevents their teeth from shifting during sleep, leading to less pain upon waking up in the morning with sore jaws and headaches.
Does your dentist recommend wearing a night guard?
Two types of dentists may recommend this: the first is for people with TMJ or TMD, which has to do with jaw joint dysfunction and an inability to chew certain foods effectively.

The second type of doctor who would prescribe one, even if you don’t have any symptoms of grinding or clenching teeth at night, would specialize in orthodontics. These doctors typically call on whether a person needs dental braces and these mouth guards can protect during all phases while worn.
Benefits of using a night guard
There are some benefits of using a night guard:
- Helps to prevent grinding and clenching, which can lead to headaches, sore jaw, and neck pain.
- Can improve the quality of your sleep by reducing insomnia and snoring or stop it altogether.
- Prevents TMJ symptoms in adults who suffer from them and prevent future problems if you haven’t had any yet.
How do you know whether Night Guard Shifts Your Teeth or not?
Do you know if your night guard is working? It’s important to know because you might end up wearing a mouthpiece that doesn’t really do any good. If the teeth shift on the right side of your mouth while wearing it, then it probably isn’t doing its job.
But there are ways to tell! We’ll go over some common indicators that your night guard is not as effective as it could be and what can be done about it. You don’t want to just keep using something that doesn’t work—you’re wasting time and money!
When should I start wearing the night guard?
When you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it’s time to see your dentist and have a professional assessment.
- I’m grinding or clenching my teeth at night
- I experience headaches in the morning
- My neck is sore from sleeping wrong on my pillow all night long
- I snore heavily, disrupting other people’s sleep and interrupting their breathing sometimes. It can be risky for me, too. Because this leads to fatigue during the day when working.
There are many more tips out there, like wearing a mouth guard if you play contact sports, but these few points should get started until we meet again!
How long do nightguards last?

A night guard can last anywhere from six months to two years. It all depends on your oral habits and the frequency of use. If you wear it every day, it will naturally start wearing down after time.
After how long did you test Night Guard Shift Your Teeth or not?
This is a common question that many dental patients ask themselves. There are many factors to consider when deciding if you need to change night guards. Some people may have the same type of mouth and can wear their current guard for years without needing a replacement.
On the other hand, some people may find they need to replace their night guard every six months because of how it fits them and what they do while wearing it (i.e., grinding). If you have been using your current night guard for at least one year, then there’s no reason you should change it unless you think it needs an adjustment to be comfortable again?
Dental night guard side effects
Dental night guards can cause damage to your teeth and also make it more difficult for you to brush or floss. It has side effects on the mouth and affects snoring patterns, sleep quality, and fatigue during waking hours.
Risks associated with wearing a night guard That Shift teeth
Some risks include difficulty brushing or flossing because they cover most of your gum line where bacteria hide out. Nightguards may also affect how soundly you sleep by altering patterns like snoring or interrupting breathing.
Things dental professionals recommend before wearing a night guard such as:
- Probing
- Xrays
- Fluid test (no sensitivity)
The dentist will take an x-ray to know the jaw’s condition and the teeth’ shape. Then we will take a fluid test with no sensitivity to see if you have gum disease or other problems that would make it difficult for you to wear a night guard.
If everything looks good, they’ll ask your dentist which type of mouthguard is best suited for your needs since there are different types available: custom (made by taking an impression), boil and bite, or stock(standard).
Teeth hurt after wearing a night guard
Dentists recommend taking care of your mouthguard. Because if it were any other piece of dental equipment:
- Rinse off after each use
- Store out of direct sunlight
- Clean surface areas
Food particles may accumulate daily using a toothbrush or an old toothbrush head for this purpose only (do not brush teeth). Ensure that you wear a mouthguard every night when you sleep to minimize the risk of damaging your teeth.

- Bite into the guard, not your teeth
- Arrive at night with a dry mouth and swollen gums from drinking too much water before bedtime.
- Talk to your dentist about how you can keep a more consistent level of saliva throughout the day: drink fluids slowly in small sips and avoid drinking large volumes right before going to sleep.
The best Mouth guard for clenching teeth
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- Bruxism or teeth grinding.
Night Guard Reviews: “I use my mouth guard for orthodontics purposes because I have had braces more than twice, and they can cause your jaw muscles to weaken over time.” -Maggie D., verified Amazon customer.
It’s a good nightguard if you’re not looking for it to stop all movement and pain from clenching or grinding your teeth as it provides some relief but isn’t the most effective” -Brenda S., verified Amazon customer.
My wife was having major dental issues due partly to her sleep habits of snoring loudly with an open mouth during sleep. We researched this thoroughly and went to a specialist who confirmed that her teeth were shifting from clenching and grinding.
A mouth guard for grinding teeth Shift
Do you grind your teeth at night? If so, are you experiencing any pain or discomfort in the morning after waking up? A mouth guard can help to prevent this from happening. Here are some tips on choosing a mouth guard for grinding teeth.
- Measure your jaw with a tape measure and select an appropriately sized mouth guard for grinding teeth that will fit comfortably within your mouth without interfering with breathing or chewing.
- Ask about different types of materials: soft, hard, boilable, and boil-and-bite type material; each has its advantages and disadvantages regarding comfort level and durability.
Find out any warranty period associated with the product because many manufacturers offer either a 30-day or a 90-day warranty on their products.
What are the benefits of using night guards for grinding teeth?
The jaw muscles and bones can be protected from injury due to prolonged pressure during sleep, especially in someone who grinds their teeth at night because it prevents premature wear that could lead to tooth breakage down the line.
Dental night guard cost
If you have difficulty sleeping due to teeth grinding or clenching, then a dental night guard might be the best option for you. This piece of equipment is custom-made and will help keep your teeth from touching while you sleep.
It can also prevent tooth loss and other problems that come with teeth grinding. A dental night guard will cost anywhere from $500-$1,000 depending on the type of material it is made of (i.e., acrylic vs. metal). They usually take about 2 weeks to make because they must be customized for each patient’s mouth size and shape.”
How to stop grinding teeth at night without a night guard?
Many people grind their teeth at night, which may cause tooth wear and pain. However, stopping grinding your teeth at night is possible without using a night guard.
Using a mouthguard or dental appliance can be an effective treatment for sleep bruxism (grinding of the teeth), but they are not always recommended because they interfere with breathing and speech during sleep.

Here we will discuss some other tips you can use to stop grinding your teeth while sleeping. First, try chewing on something sour like lemon slices before bedtime to reduce gnawing urges;
Next, drink plenty of water throughout the day so that you don’t wake up dehydrated throughout the night; finally, avoid alcohol consumption. This causes dry mouth and increases the chances of teeth grinding.
Does dental insurance cover night guards?
Some dental insurance coverages may offer a night guard as an option. A dentist will put you through a series of questions to determine whether or not this is the best course of treatment for your bruxism, and if so, they will prescribe it to you.
Where can you get a night guard?
Night Guards are available from dentists, dental labs, and over-the-counter. Dentists usually have the best selection of materials to choose from, while an over-the-counter option is typically limited in choice.
Can I wear a night guard with retainers?
Many dental patients are confused about whether or not they can wear a night guard while wearing retainers. In general, there is no need to worry! When your teeth are straightened with orthodontics, the space between your upper and lower teeth closes up.
This means that if you had a gap before in-between your front four teeth when it is closed up after treatment, you wouldn’t be able to fit anything in-between them anymore: not food particles, nor any oral appliance like a mouthguard.
However, if this does concern you and find yourself experiencing discomfort, speak to your dentist about how best to resolve the problem.
Bottom Line
Have you ever used a night guard to stop grinding your teeth? If so, did it work for you, or was the pain just too much. Do they shift your teeth and jaw forward? Let me know in the comments below! I’m always interested to hear how people are using their nightguards.

Dr. Aditya Gupta is a highly accomplished Indian doctor with extensive experience in the field of neurology. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Dr. Gupta completed his medical degree from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), followed by his postgraduate studies in neurology from the same institution.