Night guards and mouthguards

What you need to know

The Oral Health Foundation recommends wearing a mouthguard for contact sports and any activity with a risk of a blow to the mouth. It says a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist gives the best fit and protection, and does not recommend shop-bought or home-fitted guards because they may fit poorly, fall out or offer less protection.

For teeth grinding, the NHS says a dentist may recommend a mouth guard or splint made to fit your teeth precisely. See a dentist if grinding is causing tooth damage, sensitivity or jaw, face or ear pain.

What to look for

1. Ask your dentist about a custom-made mouthguard – especially for regular contact sport.
2. If you use a self-fit guard as a stop-gap, follow the fitting instructions carefully and check it stays in place.
3. Children may need a new guard more often as their jaws grow.
4. Clean the guard after each use, dry it and store it in a hard plastic case, away from heat.
5. For grinding, see a dentist rather than relying on an over-the-counter guard.

Products to consider

Listed alphabetically, not ranked. Features are from the manufacturers’ UK websites. Some links may be affiliate links.