How Should a Night Guard Fit? Your Guide

How do I know if my night guard fits properly? When you order a custom-fitted night guard from us, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. In order to ensure that you’re delighted with your purchase, we decided to provide a guide that explains exactly how your dental guard should fit and how to recognize if it doesn’t.

Just like a new pair of boots, there’s a break-in period that occurs as you adjust to your new night guard. This is normal! Some people just need a few days to get used to wearing it, while others may need a few weeks. 

How should a night guard fit? Here’s everything you need to know.

1. Consider the Material

Before we get into specifics about fit, it’s important that you understand how different night guard materials affect how the night guard will feel in your mouth. Some dental guard materials focus on comfort and are tailored for mild bruxism. Others offer more durability and protection for severe grinding and clenching.

The dental guard should fit perfectly regardless of its material, but it’s easy to confuse feel and fit. For example, a soft night guard is inherently more comfortable than an ultra-hard night guard. However, that doesn’t mean that the ultra-hard night guard doesn’t fit properly. 

How should a night guard fit? Now that you understand the difference between feel and fit, let’s talk about fit.

2. It Should Be Snug and Secure

How do I know if my night guard fits properly? First of all, it should fit snugly and securely without being overly tight and causing pain. A little bit of tightness is normal—that lets you know that the night guard is hugging the contours of your teeth properly. 

Your dental impressions are used to create a dental guard that fits like a glove. The first time you wear it, you may be surprised by the initial level of tightness, especially if you’ve worn over-the-counter night guards or sports mouth guards in the past. 

How should a night guard fit? As long as it’s a custom-fitted night guard, it shouldn’t move around. You shouldn’t have to use your upper or lower teeth to hold it in place. It should remain secure even when your mouth is open.

3. It Should Distribute Pressure Gently and Evenly

It’s normal to feel slight pressure when wearing a custom night guard. The night guard should feel like it's holding your teeth firmly in their natural positions. However, if you notice that there’s excessive pressure in a specific location, that could mean that the night guard doesn’t fit correctly. 

How should a night guard fit compared to other dental appliances? It should be tighter than an OTC night guard or sports mouth guard but not as tight as an appliance that alters your dental structure, such as braces, a retainer, or Invisalign.

4. It Shouldn’t Touch Your Gums

How do I know if my night guard fits properly? When you first insert it, you might be wondering why it doesn’t quite reach your gum line. This is intentional. If the night guard is able to rub against your gums, it could cause pain and inflammation. 

The point of the night guard is to act as a cushion between your upper and lower teeth, so it only needs to extend long enough to stay securely in place. 

How should a night guard fit? Typically, it will extend approximately halfway up or down the teeth. Of course, that will vary depending on the position and size of the teeth. As long as the night guard doesn’t make contact with your gums, you don’t need to worry.

Our Perfect Fit Promise

We offer A Perfect Fit Promise—if your night guard doesn’t fit correctly, we’ll be happy to adjust or remake it until you’re 100% happy with it. We also offer a generous 45-day trial with a 100% money-back guarantee. 

Why choose us? We offer the exact same custom-made night guards as dentists but at a fraction of the price. Our dental guards are made in the USA by experienced, professional dental technicians, and our ordering process is as easy as 1-2-3!

How should a night guard fit? How do I know if my night guard fits properly? We hope this guide has cleared up any confusion. If you still have questions, please feel free to get in touch. Relief is just a click away. Shop the best custom night guards for less!