Help! My Night Guard Makes Me Gag

You’ve noticed the symptoms of bruxism, and from what you’ve read, it’s not something to ignore. And although you know that a night guard is your best first step in protecting your teeth from the damage caused by grinding and clenching, when you wear yours, your gag reflex kicks in, and the night guard comes out.

So what can you do when you have sleep bruxism but can’t wear the mouth guard designed to help prevent teeth grinding?

The solution doesn’t have to be “just ignore it,” and it’s definitely not “stop wearing the night guard.” Many people wear these devices comfortably, and you likely can too. In this article, we’ll go over why your night guard might be triggering your gag reflex and how to work around those issues so you can sleep comfortably.

Why Night Guards Can Trigger Gagging

First, it’s important to note that this can be a normal adjustment period, although it’s not ideal, and you don’t want to continue gagging when you use your night guard. However, it’s common for this to happen as you get used to wearing your new oral appliance.

The key is to recognize what’s a temporary issue that will go away as you get used to wearing your mouth guard versus what’s a legitimate problem that needs to be addressed. 

This list of reasons your night guard might be making you gag can help you pinpoint the exact culprit and guide your next steps:

• The guard is too bulky. When a night guard is too thick near the molars (the back teeth), it can touch the back of your tongue and the sensitive soft palate, which often triggers the gag reflex.
• You’re using a generic guard: Over-the-counter and boil-and-bite or one-size-fits-all devices, although “molded” to your teeth, aren’t precisely trimmed. They may extend too far back, covering the molars and triggering your gag reflex.
• Your guard is warped. Night guard materials are durable enough for long-term use, but they can still distort under certain conditions. Cleaning with hot water or leaving it in humid or cold environments can warp the device and cause gagging.
• You have an uneven bite. You might not even notice it, but if your bite is out of its “normal” place, wearing a night guard can be tricky. Jaw tension from an uneven bite can strain the jaw muscles and shift how the guard sits in your mouth.
• You need practice. Are you using the night guard for the first time? There’s a technique you need to master to help you place it correctly over the teeth. A little practice (and some good instructions), and you’ll be a night guard pro in no time!
• Your gag reflex is sensitive. When you have a sensitive gag reflex, wearing a night guard feels like a foreign object (and, let’s face it, it is until you get used to it). Your gag reflex is trying to protect you, but when it’s overly sensitive, adjusting to a night guard takes time.
• The night guard is the wrong size. Even though the package might have said “one size fits most,” a night guard should be custom-made to your palate and teeth. Wearing the wrong-size night guard often results in excess material that triggers even the hardiest gag reflex.
• The night guard is dirty. Cleanliness issues, such as built-up bacteria or food debris, can cause foul odors that trigger gagging. You might not notice them visually or with your nose, but your gag reflex does!

Do any of these sound familiar? Once you narrow down the reason for your night guard causing you to gag, you’re on the road to a solution!

How to Solve Your Night Guard Gagging Issues

While you can’t instantly turn off your gag reflex, there are some things you can do to reduce the negative impact of wearing your night guard.

Night Guard Gagging Causes and Solutions

Here’s a quick breakdown of the causes listed above and the potential solutions for each.

Thickness Issues

Night guards aren’t all thick, like the bulky boil-and-bite you might be used to. Even custom-made guards come in multiple thicknesses. If your teeth grinding is mild or occasional, a soft night guard might be all you need. For more moderate grinding, thinner custom designs may improve comfort while still offering protection.

Choose a thinner design, such as JS Dental Lab’s hybrid dual-laminate, to reduce pressure on the roof of the mouth. The front teeth are still covered, there’s no excess material, and the soft inner lining keeps your mouth comfortable.

Issues With Generic Types

Opt for a high-quality custom night guard from your dentist or online professional labs instead of a generic boil-and-bite. Over-the-counter guards are often too bulky or poorly fitted, which can add jaw tension and increase gagging.

Warped Material

When a night guard is warped, it can reduce effectiveness and cause serious discomfort. Not only does it stop protecting your teeth, but it can also be uncomfortable, worsening jaw pain and, in some cases, causing your teeth to shift. 

Warping harbors bacteria and harms your oral health. Once you notice changes in the material, from cracks and lines to shifting arches, the warping has begun. Rather than risking making the problem worse, invest in a new night guard.

Uneven Bite

Your bite can shift over time due to aging, dental changes, or tooth movement. This happens with retainers, too — if you stop wearing your retainer too soon after braces, your teeth can shift back to their pre-orthodontic positions. 

If your bite feels off after wearing your night guard, even if it’s the same impression kit you’ve had for years, visit your dentist to make sure there aren’t any underlying oral health issues, and get a new night guard that matches your shifted teeth. 

First-Time Use

When you first get your night guard, the idea of sleeping with it in your mouth can be a little unsettling. If you can’t make it a full 6-8 hours without gagging or feeling uncomfortable, practice wearing it through the day. Pay attention to your breathing and try to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth for 15-20 minutes at a time. 

With an adjustment period and some practice, you should be comfortable wearing your new night guard all night soon.

Sensitive Gag Reflex

If you have a soft palate that’s extremely sensitive to stimuli, it’s vital that your night guard is customized to your mouth. Soft night guards can be the best choice, but if you’re a moderate or severe grinder, these bite guards won’t last long. Consider wearing your night guard on your upper teeth to reduce gagging.

Wrong Size Night Guard

Aiming for store-bought night guards is understandable when you’re on a budget. But the wrong-size guard just means you’ve wasted money, and now you need to spend more to get the right fit.

Instead of going for the “cheapest,” shop affordably. You can get a custom-fit mouthguard from an online dentistry lab like JS Dental Lab and still have the best, high-quality fit at a price that’s much more reasonable than your dentist’s version.

Hygiene Issues

Cleaning your night guard daily should be part of your oral hygiene routine. Just as you wouldn’t use a toothbrush without rinsing it thoroughly first, you don’t want to put a dirty, used night guard in your mouth and sleep with it on your teeth for hours.

Unclean night guards harbor germs that cause illness, house bacteria that lead to tooth decay and gum disease, and weaken the material. Keep your night guard clean daily with a simple warm water scrub. A weekly cleanse with a baking soda rinse removes buildup, and a monthly deep cleaning with our ultrasonic LED cleaner or a vinegar-and-peroxide rinse should keep your oral appliance in good shape and prevent foul odors that make you gag.

Other Solutions When Your Night Guard Keeps Making You Gag

If you’ve followed all the troubleshooting steps above and your night guard still makes you gag, there may be an underlying issue. In these cases, bringing in a dental or medical professional is the next step.

Dental and Medical Reasons for Night Guard Gagging

Yes, it’s annoying, but if your night guard keeps causing you to gag, it might be the sign you need that tells you there’s a more serious problem. Many times, bruxism is interlinked with other dental and health conditions. Fixing one doesn’t always mean the other is corrected, but the right treatment can reduce symptoms and soreness.

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)

Your TMJ is the delicate joint that connects your skull and jaw. It’s tiny, but it’s responsible for all the movement your mouth makes, including eating, speaking, and grinding. When it’s out of alignment or inflamed, which often happens with bruxism, you may notice popping, clicking, and increased gagging and jaw pain when you wear your night guard.

Ongoing symptoms can be helped with a night guard, but severe cases require professional care, a specially designed oral splint, and a tailored treatment plan from a TMJ specialist.

Misaligned Bites

Misaligned bites, officially called malocclusion, happen when the upper and lower teeth don’t fall into their proper position when the mouth is closed. This shift causes issues with alignment, chewing, and jaw function. 

Common types include overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites, often caused by genetics, childhood habits, or injury. Depending on the reason, yours may require orthodontic treatment in addition to the night guard.

Sleep Apnea

Other sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), also need professional treatment. OSA is characterized by repeated narrowing or collapsing of the airways, which causes apneas, or interruptions in breathing.

Not everyone recognizes they have OSA because the symptoms show up when you’re sleeping: snoring loudly and gasping for air are the two main signs of this disorder, along with feeling exhausted during the day and teeth grinding. Adding a night guard can feel like one more obstacle, and your brain triggers your gag reflex, making you spit it out.

OSA can be dangerous, and, left untreated, is sometimes fatal. If you think you might have obstructive sleep apnea, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea leads to serious health risks and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Conclusion

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common, but leaving them untreated isn’t an option. Dental night guards are designed to keep your mouth safe from the damage of bruxism, and when yours makes you gag, it’s frustrating. It shouldn’t be ignored, and if discomfort continues, alternatives should be discussed with a dental professional.

If you’re gagging when you use your night guard because it’s the wrong fit or has a material issue, JS Dental Lab has you covered. With our custom-fit night guards, you can have a professional-grade, high-quality oral appliance delivered to your door just in time to help you get the rest you deserve.