What's the Best Material for a Night Guard?

Night guards are tiny but mighty oral appliances that can protect your mouth from all kinds of damage. Often prescribed for conditions such as bruxism, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), these handy devices slide over the biting surfaces of your upper or lower teeth to keep them from touching.

But your night guard is only as good as the material it’s made from.

In this article, we’ll discuss the various types of dental night guards, the materials used to make them, and what each kind is and isn’t right for.

Often-Used Materials in Night Guard Production

We live in the 21st century, where comfort and convenience mean everything if you want a product to be successful. But that’s not how the first night guards started out.

The Evolution of Mouth Guards

In the late 1800s, mouth guards designed to protect boxers from damage to their teeth and gums used sponges, wood, and other non-fitted materials. To keep the guard in their mouths, they had to clench the whole time.

Eventually, this idea took hold, and the “gum shield,” as it was called, evolved through stages of gutta-percha (rubber-like tree sap), vella rubber, transparent acrylic resin, and latex mouth guards (recommended by the American Dental Association for use in all contact sports in the 1960s). 

Yet, these more “modern” guards, while solving problems like reusability and fit, didn’t answer the need for comfort and customization. Enter the materials in today’s night guards: 

Acrylic

You’ve heard of acrylic paint, acrylic nails, and even acrylic clothes — but does this material really go in your mouth safely? 

The answer is yes…kinda.

The scientific definition of “acrylic” is a thin plastic material made of methyl methacrylate polymers. Acrylic for oral use, such as dental acrylic, is food-safe as long as it’s BPA-free and professionally manufactured. The material is transparent and reactive, making it ideal for products that need to be strong and flexible, such as the night guard.

Even better, acrylic is a great bond for adhesives and solvents, and does not weather or degrade easily. It’s lightweight, clear, and easily manipulated into various shapes. In short, it’s the perfect material for night guards.

The downside is that it’s also hard and rigid. So, while it’s durable enough to handle your grinding, it’s not the best for comfort and flexibility.

BPA

Bisphenol-A, better known as BPA, is used by chemical manufacturers when they need hard plastic for their designs. You’ve seen BPA in some food packages and water bottles, but it has also been used in hard plastic night guards in the past.

Lately, though, we’ve learned that BPA can cause serious health issues. Some studies show that BPA is linked to reproductive problems, cancer, and hormonal imbalances. 

Consumers don’t want it in their products; hence, the BPA-free label.

This demand is particularly strong for items that go in the mouth regularly, like night guards. While BPA isn’t frequently used, trace amounts could be present in some acrylic oral appliances and dental sealants.

All of our products at JS Dental Lab are completely BPA-free.

Keep Reading: JS Dental Lab Product Buying Guide

Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate

When comfort and flexibility matter, acrylic takes a backseat to more pliable materials, like Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA). This copolymer is a blend of ethylene and vinyl acetate monomers, meaning it’s a material made from two single-property molecules that bind together to create one new result. Once they’re combined, the molecules aren’t easily separated.

The copolymer is flexible and non-toxic, UV-resistant, BPA-free, and adhesive enough to stay in the mouth without effort. Add flexibility, and you have the ideal material for a soft night guard.

EVA is used when customers want a cushiony, flexible, and soft guard that can reduce clenching and grinding while still being comfortable to wear all night. It’s the primary material used for soft night guards and found in the liners of hybrid night guards.

Phthalates

Like BPAs, phthalates are synthetic chemicals used to make plastic more flexible and durable, giving them the nickname “plasticizers.”

Until recently, phthalates were commonly found in:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products
• Personal care items
• Cosmetics
• Paints
• Other everyday household products

However, phthalates don’t chemically bond to the other ingredients in the products, so they can enter the environment or human body and create health problems.

The health effects are still being studied, but phthalate-free night guards, like those we offer at JS Dental Lab, are recommended.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG)

Continuing our mini science lesson, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, commonly called PETG, is what you get when you turn ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid into a copolymer. The result is a thermoplastic that can give night guards more durability.

PETG is used in food packaging and 3D printing. It is non-toxic and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Its applications in the dental accessory world have also been impactful. Because it’s clear, strong, and moldable, this versatile material is ideal for hybrid night guards: powerful enough to be durable; flexible and lightweight enough to be worn comfortably. 

Bonus: It can even be labeled food-safe, and it’s recyclable! This and EVA are the materials of choice at our Hayward, CA, laboratory.

Types of Night Guards

Choosing the material of your night guard isn’t always black and white. You may prefer a PETG guard that gives you that “barely there” feeling, but if your teeth-grinding symptoms are severe, you could bite right through the thermoplastic. 

Before you find a material preference for “best night guard,” let’s discuss the types of mouth guard varieties you’ll see available.

Boil-and-Bite

This inexpensive occlusal guard is sold over-the-counter and online. 

Consumers boil the putty until semi-soft, bite into it, and let it dry. The impression becomes a bulky but usable night guard. 

The downside of “cheap” is that it’s not designed to last, isn’t comfortable, and doesn’t cover your teeth thoroughly.

One-Size-Fits-Most

Sometimes called “instant guards,” these OTC treatments come out of the package ready for use. They’re disposable and inexpensive, making them helpful if you lose your custom-fit night guard and are waiting for a new one. 

But as a permanent solution, the cost will add up quickly. They’re also not designed to fit your unique nooks and crannies.

Soft

Mild grinders, or those with sensitive teeth and gums, may choose a soft night guard as their customized splint of choice. While these comfy guards serve a purpose (protecting your teeth from the effects of bruxism), consistent use or moderate grinding will have you replacing yours frequently.

Hybrid

Moderate-to-severe grinders need something with a little more oomph in their night guard materials. 

They want durability without the acrylic inflexibility. That’s where hybrid night guards take the spotlight. These impressive splints have a soft inner liner for comfort and a hard outer shell to withstand teeth grinding.

Hard

For a custom night guard that can withstand your severe grinding and 

clenching behaviors, opt for the hard version. It’s more bulky, yes, but it will outlast more flexible thermoplastics.

What to Consider When Choosing a Night Guard

You know your teeth grinding side effects could benefit from a night guard, but which should you buy?

The easiest answer would be to go to your regular dental professional and let them decide for you. But that avenue often involves a long wait and a high price tag.

Thankfully, you can skip both of these obstacles and shop online. Still, there are a lot of possibilities.

Choosing means deciding on:

• Flexibility and comfort versus durability and longevity
• An impression kit or an already designed disposable gum shield
• Cheapest pricing versus a type that lasts longer and is custom-made for your teeth

Most of us go straight for the most affordable option. However, before you invest in an OTC guard, think about the following factors:

Grinding Frequency and Severity

Do you grind most nights? Has waking up with a headache and a tight neck become part of your daily routine? Do you feel tired even after getting a whole night’s sleep?

If so, opt for a dual-layer (hybrid) or hard guard. You’re grinding often, and a cheap OTC night guard won’t last very long.

Comfort and Customization

Comfort is a big deal when you need to sleep with a device in your mouth. Snug, thin guards that slide over the lower or upper teeth and are made of flexible materials are the best solution here. 

You can get used to bulkier guards, but when they don’t fit your teeth correctly, they’ll rub against your gums and mouth and irritate the soft tissue.

Your Dental Health

Bruxism can significantly erode tooth enamel, damaging dental restorations. If you have fillings, dental implants, veneers, bridges, crowns, or other fixes, a custom night guard that covers these expensive restorations is essential. 

An OTC or one-size-fits-all guard can destroy the existing work and damage your teeth, causing cracks, breaks, and other problems.

With these three factors in mind, affordability becomes the next hurdle. Cheap night guards are out if you don’t want bulky and potentially damaging devices. Your dentist can create customized, high-quality night guards — but do you want to pay for multiple office visits and high lab price tags?

Thankfully, there’s an in-between solution. Order an impression kit from our JS Dental Lab professionals, and let us help you find the occlusal guard that meets every need!

Caring For Your Night Guard

After you’ve decided on a night guard and clicked the “checkout” button (or gone to the store), you want to make sure your oral appliance lasts a long time. 

Part of this goal depends on the material it’s made of. Still, the longevity of your new guard is also affected by how well you care for it.

Tips to Clean Night Guards

Wearing your night guard daily is necessary to reap the benefits. But no one wants to put a dirty piece of thermoplastic in their mouth, especially one filled with bacteria and germs. Night guards need gentle daily cleaning combined with more vigorous weekly and monthly scrubs.

To clean your night guard every morning after use, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or night guard brush and warm water, or spray it with a night guard cleaning spray.  At this stage, you’re just trying to knock any debris loose and remove some bacteria.

Weekly and monthly soaks in a vinegar and hydrogen peroxide solution, a scrub with an antibacterial or non-abrasive toothpaste, or a run through an ultrasonic cleaner give your night guard a fresh clean and eliminate stubborn germs. 

Our article on how to clean a mouth guard provides plenty of suggestions for removing discoloration, odor, and other common dental appliance issues.

Extra Tips: What to Do and What Not to Do

Be sure to let it air dry completely on a clean surface before storing your night guard in a ventilated case. Never keep it in anything fully sealed, like a jar or ziploc bag, as they can be breeding grounds for germs. Most night guards come with a ventilated case, which should be cleaned at least monthly.

Always use warm water when cleaning your night guard. If exposed to hot water or other extreme temperatures, the material can degrade, causing the guard to warp, crack, or break. 

The same thing happens with alcohol. Be cautious about using any chemicals — including mouthwash or toothpaste — on your new device.

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Conclusion

When your neck, face, and jaw muscles are sore and you can’t ignore your bruxing symptoms anymore, you know it’s time for a night guard.

However, choosing a customized one with a long lifespan and the perfect fit made from the right material is important, and you’re wise to investigate your options.

At JS Dental Lab, our night guards are BPA-, phthalate-, and latex-free and made in the USA. When you shop with us, you know you’re getting high-quality products. 

But if you’re not sure whether you need a hard, soft, or dual-laminate night guard, our professionals are ready to help you through the process, getting you closer to feeling the magic of a full night’s sleep without teeth grinding and jaw clenching.