Clenching, Grinding, and Sleepless Nights: What You Need to Know About Night Guards and TMJ Jaw Pain
Here’s the thing: I never thought I’d be the one to have a ‘mouthguard at night’ kind of person. You know the stereotype- plaid pajamas, night light? Then, three mornings in a row, I woke with my jaw feeling so sore I couldn’t even eat toast since it made me wince. That’s when it hit me: I was clenching my teeth. Big time.And I’m not the only one. Every week at butternutdental, we have people coming in with tension headaches and clicking jaws and worn down molars or random ear pain that they were sure was an infection – and most of the time, it is, bruxism: unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth, usually at night.
If you’ve experienced any or all of this, allow me to take you through something that can make your mornings easier, your jaw happier, and your dentist a whole lot less concerned: a night guard sleep right.
Here’s one confusion we’ll straighten out right now — night guards are not identical to sports mouthguards.
They’re streamlined, much lighter, and custom fit to your bite. Their only job is to slightly separate your upper and lower teeth so you don’t grind them down to tiny little river rocks each time you sleep.
However, it’s not all about saving your enamel. For individuals with jaw tension or full-blown TMJ dysfunction, a night guard helps to reposition the jaw in order to relieve strain on this joint. That little shift can make the world of difference.
One guy maybe in his mid-30s, a high-stress sales job, came to us complaining about daily headaches and “clicky jaw stuff” (his words). Anyway, he swore that he was 100% fine until his wife said he was crushing ice in his sleep. Few weeks and a custom night guard later, not only were the noises gone but so were the headaches.
Good question. When you hear the term night guard sleep right, it’s more than just wearing a guard; it’s getting one that fits your mouth, supports your jaw, and helps your muscles finally relax.
I know people test the over-the-counter guards from the drugstore. The ones you boil and bite? Yeah, for a day or two, maybe, but more often they just stretch out too bulky or flimsy anyway. They do shift during sleep. They can actually increase jaw tension if your alignment in biting isn’t done properly.
At butternutdental, we do a 3D scan or take impressions to custom-make a guard that fits just right. It is thin enough to wear comfortably, but strong enough to stand up to nightly grinding. Most people get used to it after a few nights, and some even say it helps them sleep better overall—less jaw clenching, less tension, more rest.
Now this is the fun stuff: insurance codes.
That tmj night guard dental code – or more formally, D9944 – is the one dentists use to bill for a hard, custom-made nightguard that covers the full dental arch. Specifically, for bruxism and treatments related to TMJ. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
Here’s the tricky part: not every insurance company wants to cover it. Some consider it ‘preventive’ and do not pay. Others call it ‘medical’ rather than dental, and so it falls into the weird insurance limbo.
Ask your dentist to submit a pre-authorization to your provider. That way, you know in advance if you’ll get partial reimbursement or if you’ll be stuck paying the whole bill. At butternutdental, we always handle this for patients because, let’s face it, nobody likes surprise bills in their inbox.
You’d be surprised how many people grind their teeth and don’t even know it.
I’ve had folks come in for regular cleanings and only realize something was wrong when I showed them the wear patterns on their teeth. Here are a few warning signs: You wake up with a tight jaw, especially around your temples. Your molars feel ‘exhausted’ in the morning, like you’ve been chewing gum in your sleep.
Teeth can be chipped or cracked even with no impact or injury. Your jaw clicks, or it pops while you are chewing, yawning, or even talking. You experience tension headaches or have sore neck muscles. Your partner tells you you’re grinding your teeth at night. If any of those sound familiar, do yourself a favor - book a quick consult with your dentist. The earlier you catch this, the easier it is to manage.
Cost Talk: Is It Worth It?
Let’s not sugarcoat this — custom night guards are not at all cheap. They typically range between $400 to $800 depending on your dentist, materials, and whether insurance helps out.
And I get it. I do. Hundreds on a piece of plastic you wear to bed. It’s a hard sell at first.
While up front this might seem like some small investment, it’ll save you thousands in future dental work. I’ve seen people who, after years of grinding their teeth down to little nubs, needed crowns, veneers, even implants. All of which could have easily been prevented by a night guard.
Most butternutdental offices typically payment plans or in-house financing available, including ours. So if your insurance comes falling through, there’s still a chance for you.
Soft Guards:
These are typically fabricated from a pliable rubbery material. They feel more comfortable at the outset but wear out relatively quickly. Recommended for mild clenching.
Acrylic Guards:
These are the tough and stiff variety, quite durable and suitable for heavy grinders or those afflicted with TMJ pain. These are also more likely to be reimbursed under the code.
I personally had a college student break two soft guards the week before midterms (‘tis the season). Finally switched over to a hard guard; a postgraduate with teeth still intact, I gave her something to smile about.
If I’m completely honest, the few first nights of using a night guard feel…weird.
You may drool. You may wake up spitting it out halfway through the night. All part of the learning curve, right?
Here are a few tips that have helped me and my clients:
- Get it in early- say 20-30 min before you’re winding down so your mouth ‘gets used to it’
- Washing in hot water is undesirable; it’s the best shape preserver with lukewarm or cool water
- Do not use toothpaste because it is abrasive; only soap or denture tablets are favorable
- Keep it in a case and maybe not on your nightstand if you’ve got a dog (learned that the hard way)
- Stick with it. Within about a week, most people forget that they are even on them. One of my patients even told me that it had become part of her sleep ritual, just like brushing her teeth or turning on her white noise machine.
Real Results from Real People
If you’re still not convinced, then let me give you a couple of quick stories.
A 40-something dad presents with exquisite jaw pain so severe that he has stopped chewing on the right side of his mouth. He’s two weeks into his custom night guard: ‘Full range of motion and zero discomfort.’
A patient, another graphic designer, felt constant neck tension thinking it was from sitting at her desk all day. “Turns out it was jaw clenching at night,” said the guard not only helped her jaw relax but gave her better posture, too. And one college student? She swore it cured her insomnia. (Probably wasn’t just the guard, but hey, better sleep is a win.)
Don’t Wait for a Dental Emergency
Little aches and pains we generally ignore till they become enormous problems. If, however, you’re feeling your teeth are cracking, your jaw is really sore or waking up tired every day, then it’s time you looked further.
Night guards are no magic but they are one of the simple magic solutions in our arsenal for treating TMJ, bruxism, and nighttime grinding. Especially if they’re built specifically, well fitting, and properly prescribed.
So if you’ve been considering it or if your dentist has been talking about it on more than one occasion, take the next step. Talk to someone you can trust, like the team at butternutdental, and find out if a night guard may be the solution you've been longing for. Because let’s be real: Sleeping badly is bad enough; doing so while grinding your smile away is just not cool.