The Best Mouth Guard For Jaw Clenching

Written by Ann C. McCulloch, MBA | Medically Reviewed by Bradley Allen Eli, DMD, MS

The best mouth guard for jaw clenching is an anterior bite splint, which blocks contact between the back teeth and reduces the jaw muscle forces that drive clenching. Full-coverage night guards are better suited for long-term teeth grinding, while a temporary anterior splint is preferred when clenching is causing acute jaw pain. The right choice depends on whether the underlying cause is stress, TMJ disorder, injury, or sleep bruxism.

Key Takeaways

• An anterior bite splint is generally the most effective design for reducing jaw muscle activity associated with clenching.
• Soft, over-the-counter “boil-and-bite” splints are frequently fitted incorrectly and can worsen clenching behavior.
• Jaw clenching forces can run several times higher than normal chewing forces, raising the risk of muscle strain and TMJ injury.
• Temporary anterior splints are appropriate for acute clenching tied to stress, medication, or jaw injury and often resolve symptoms within 2–4 weeks.
• Full coverage night guards are better suited for long-term sleep bruxism but require custom fitting and periodic professional adjustment.
• Persistent jaw pain from clenching warrants evaluation — acute pain is a recognized risk factor for chronic TMJ disorders.

Why Do I Clench My Jaw?

There are multiple causes that can be driving your jaw clenching. Here are some of the more common ones:

• Stress: The relationship between emotional stress, anxiety, and jaw clenching is well-established. For a deeper look, see anxiety and jaw clenching are connected.
• Medications: Notorious offenders include stimulants (including caffeine) and antidepressant medications (SSRI-class drugs like Zoloft).
• Jaw Injury: Jaw and muscle sprain/strain (JAMSS) occurs with direct jaw trauma, whiplash, prolonged dental procedures, intubation, and many other situations. This can trigger muscle guarding, jaw tension, and clenching. A car accident is a common cause.
• TMJ Disorders: The two main types of TMJ disorders are those that involve the joint itself and those that involve the surrounding muscles. There is a strong association between TMJ disorders and jaw clenching.
• Tension Headaches: There is a close relationship between tension headaches and jaw clenching — the two conditions are so intertwined that it is often hard to determine which is causing the other. See TMJ headache relief: a comprehensive approach for more.
• Sleep Bruxism: Jaw clenching and teeth grinding while asleep is referred to as “sleep bruxism“. While there may be no symptoms, others experience jaw pain and headache that gradually diminish during the day.

You may have heard the term “bruxism” in your research. Bruxism is defined as a repetitive activation of the jaw muscles and can include jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and thrusting of the jaw. Bruxism itself is not a disorder, but rather describes a behavior that is a risk factor for oral health consequences.

There is a subtle but important difference between treating teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Teeth grinding treatments focus on protecting the teeth, whereas jaw clenching treatment tries to address jaw muscle tension.

Jaw Clenching Pain

Not all jaw clenching will result in pain, but when it does, you should take it seriously. The jaw muscles open and close thousands of times a day and can generate hundreds of pounds of force. With jaw clenching, the forces on the jaw can be six times greater than the force generated when eating. This can cause strain on the TMJ and surrounding muscles.

“If your jaw clenching is causing symptoms such as jaw pain or headache, it’s important to seek treatment. The most recent studies indicate that acute jaw pain is a key risk factor for developing chronic pain conditions, such as TMJ disorders,” explains Bradley Eli, DMD, MS, an orofacial pain specialist.

Types of Dental Mouth Guards

There are several different types of dental mouth guards, or “splints.” Here are some ways to differentiate between them:

• Soft Splints: Soft splints are made of a material that is boiled and formed to the teeth and can be sold over the counter. Soft splints do not balance the forces of the jaw and have been known to make bruxism worse. A recent study reported that 90% of people who used the “boil-and-bite” type soft splint in their trial had incorrectly fashioned the splint on their own, making it improper for clinical use.
• Hard Splints: Hard splints are made of resin or hard plastic and are custom fit to the teeth using impression material or digital scans. They come in different designs for different clinical purposes.
• Anterior Bite Plane Splints: An anterior bite plane splint is typically made of a firm material and is provided for short-term treatment or as a trial splint to determine whether splint therapy is beneficial. It is called “partial coverage” because it leaves the posterior teeth exposed. The anterior bite design is optimized to reduce jaw clenching because it completely inhibits posterior tooth contact, and by extension, activation of the jaw muscles.
• Full Coverage Splints: “Full coverage” splints, sometimes called night guards, are designed for longer-term use. Their primary purpose can be to protect the teeth from grinding, to address a specific TMJ disorder, or to manage obstructive sleep apnea. A full coverage splint may not address jaw pain, or may even make it worse, if it is not designed appropriately and periodically adjusted by a dentist trained in splint therapy.
• Stabilization vs. Repositioning: Stabilizing splints are designed to stop the destructive forces that occur with teeth grinding. Repositioning splints are designed to change the position of the jaw joint — for instance, when there is joint clicking. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society found that anterior repositioning splints improved pain and jaw opening compared to physical therapy, with outcomes broadly comparable to other occlusal splint designs for disc displacement.
• Permissive vs. Non-permissive: A permissive splint allows the jaw to glide into the most comfortable position. A non-permissive splint limits jaw movement into a defined relationship. Typically, stabilization splints are permissive and repositioning splints are non-permissive.
• Temporary vs. Long-Term: A temporary splint is appropriate for acute situations such as jaw sprain or strain. The pain associated with jaw muscle hyperactivity can often resolve in 2–4 weeks with proper conservative care. Long-term splints are full coverage designs and vary by material and purpose.

The Best Mouth Guard for Jaw Clenching

The best mouthguard for jaw clenching will depend on your underlying condition. In a mechanical sense, an anterior bite guard is the best for jaw clenching because it completely prohibits contact of the posterior teeth. It is also the best for acute pain due to jaw injury because it will be the most efficient at decreasing jaw muscle hyperactivity.

Using an anterior bite night guard as a trial, before selecting a full coverage splint, has a diagnostic benefit for both you and your dentist. The anterior bite night guard might be a QuickSplint® device, or a custom-designed device by your dentist. It is also called a deprogrammer because it reduces muscle memory of clenching behaviors — after short-term wear, you and your dentist can determine whether you need a longer-term mouthguard, and if so, what type is most beneficial. For a side-by-side comparison with other splint options, see what’s the best mouth guard for TMJ pain.

If long-term use is anticipated, such as in the case of sleep bruxism, a full coverage guard is the most appropriate choice. Even in this case, a short-term anterior guard can be used if there is any jaw pain involved, or to get a preview of what the night guard might feel like. If the jaw clenching is related to a joint problem, a repositioning splint is an appropriate choice and professional care is recommended.

A temporary custom mouth guard is appropriate in situations where the underlying condition can be addressed in 2–4 weeks — including the time it takes to address emotional stressors, change medications, or see a specialist for definitive care. It can also serve as a bridge solution while a long-term guard is being fabricated.

The QuickSplint® is a custom anterior bite splint that you can make at home and use on the same day of delivery. It was specifically designed to provide relief from jaw pain and jaw clenching. It is intended for temporary use (2–4 weeks) and is to be worn at night.

Jaw Pain Relief

If your jaw clenching is causing jaw pain or headache, here are some other measures you can take:

• Rest: Try to rest the jaw using practical measures such as a soft food diet and avoidance of gum or chewy foods. Also refrain from stimulants such as caffeine. See our guide on jaw rest for TMJ pain for specifics.
• Analgesics: OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage acute pain.
• Hot/Cold Therapy: There is ample evidence that heat and ice can help soothe sore jaw muscles and decrease muscle hyperactivity.

The QuickSplint® anterior bite mouth guard is part of the Speed2Treat® Home Healing Kit. It is designed to have everything you need for a multi-modal approach to jaw care. Start your journey towards jaw pain relief today!

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Jaw Clenching

• Is my jaw clenching primarily a muscle problem, a joint problem, or both?
• Would a temporary anterior bite splint or a full coverage night guard better suit my situation right now?
• Could any of my current medications be contributing to my clenching?
• How long should I try conservative care before reassessing my treatment plan?
• What warning signs would suggest my clenching has progressed to a TMJ disorder?
• How often should my splint be checked or adjusted once I begin wearing one?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best mouth guard for jaw clenching?

An anterior bite splint is generally considered the best option for jaw clenching because it blocks contact between the back teeth, directly reducing the muscle forces that drive clenching. Full coverage night guards are better suited for long-term teeth grinding protection rather than acute clenching pain.

Can a mouth guard make jaw clenching worse?

Yes. Soft, over-the-counter boil-and-bite splints are frequently fitted incorrectly and can increase clenching activity in some patients. A poorly designed or unadjusted full coverage splint can also worsen jaw pain rather than relieve it.

How long do I need to wear a splint for jaw clenching?

For acute clenching related to stress, injury, or medication, a temporary anterior splint is typically worn for 2–4 weeks while the underlying cause is addressed. Long-term sleep bruxism usually requires an ongoing full coverage night guard with periodic adjustment.

Is jaw clenching the same as teeth grinding?

No. Both fall under the umbrella term bruxism, but clenching involves sustained muscle contraction without lateral tooth movement, while grinding involves the teeth sliding against each other. Treatment for clenching focuses on reducing muscle tension; treatment for grinding focuses on protecting tooth surfaces.

When should I see a dentist about jaw clenching?

Seek evaluation if clenching causes persistent jaw pain, morning headaches, or limited jaw opening. Acute jaw pain is a recognized risk factor for developing a chronic TMJ disorder if left untreated.

Does stress cause jaw clenching?

Stress and anxiety are among the most well-established contributors to jaw clenching, and often work alongside other factors such as medication side effects, jaw injury, or an underlying TMJ disorder. Addressing the stress component is an important part of treatment.

References

1. Ainoosah S, Farghal AE, Alzemei MS, et al. Comparative analysis of different types of occlusal splints for the management of sleep bruxism: a systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2024;24(1):29. PMID: 38182999. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38182999/
2. Soares-Silva L, de Amorim CS, Magno MB, et al. Effects of different interventions on bruxism: an overview of systematic reviews. Sleep Breath. 2024;28(3):1465–1476. PMID: 38177829. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38177829/
3. Maheshwari K, Srinivasan R, Singh BP, et al. Effectiveness of anterior repositioning splint versus other occlusal splints in the management of temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction: a meta-analysis. J Indian Prosthodont Soc. 2024;24(1):15–24. PMID: 38263554. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38263554/
4. Singh BP, Singh N, Jayaraman S, et al. Occlusal splints for managing temporomandibular disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;9(9):CD012850. PMID: 39282765. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39282765/
5. Gerstner G, Yao W, Siripurapu K, et al. Over-the-counter bite splints: a randomized controlled trial of compliance and efficacy. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2020;6(6):626–641. PMID: 32779386. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32779386/
6. Bruxism Management. StatPearls [Internet]. NCBI Bookshelf. Updated May 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482466/