Unconscious cheek biting is a pervasive issue that troubles millions of people worldwide. While lifestyle changes like stress management and mindfulness techniques can offer some relief from biting, these methods often don’t work effectively for everyone. A more direct approach is needed during sleep or for those who find themselves continuing to bite their cheeks despite other efforts.
That’s where mouth guards come in. These dental accessories serve as a frontline defense against the adverse effects of cheek biting as well as protecting your lower and upper teeth. A night guard for teeth grinding might also work when preventing bites, but the appliance will be more effective you’ll choose a specialized on.
This article aims to guide you through the selection of mouth guards, helping you make an informed choice to protect your cheek health.
What Causes You To Bite Cheeks?
Various factors contribute to cheek biting, ranging from psychological to physical. Stress and anxiety can certainly be biting triggers. But it’s not limited to mental health causes. Dental issues like misaligned teeth can also form a cheek biting habit.
Because unconscious cheek biting often occurs without one’s awareness, it’s difficult to address this issue solely through behavioral changes or self-control, making mouthguards a great solution.
| Cause for Cheek Biting | How to Solve | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Stress and Anxiety | Stress management techniques | Pain, soreness |
| Misaligned Teeth | Orthodontic treatment | Unintentional biting, pain |
| Habitual Behavior | Behavioral therapy | Sores, ulcers |
| Body-Focused Repetitive Disorders (BFRD) | Consult a psychologist | Sores, skin damage |
Why Does Cheek Biting Cause Problems?
Cheek biting is more than just a minor annoyance in your mouth. Over time, it can lead to cheek tissue damage, the formation of ulcers, and even oral infections. I’ve had a sores that led to an infection due to repeated cheek biting.
Cheek biting can also cause gum irritation and even bleeding, all of which can significantly degrade your oral health, making it difficult to sleep and eat.
How Cheek Biting Guards Work?
A Mouthguard acts as a physical barrier preventing unintentional biting and grinding of your cheek. A bite guard is a device that must fit in the mouth to protect the teeth and gums, but the fitting process varies from type to type.
Boil-and-bite oral guards require you to boil the product and then bite mouth guard on the mold. Direct-to-customer and dental office options offer better fitting through customization as you need to visit a dentist or mail your mouth impressions. While dental office mouth appliances can be expensive, they don’t necessarily offer the best fit compared to less costly care options.
Buyer’s Guide on Choosing the Best Mouth Guard For Cheek Biting
The market for mouth guards is both expansive and diverse, making the choice difficult even for when you simply want to stop biting your cheek. There’s a plethora of options ranging from generic over-the-counter options to highly specialized custom-made versions offered by preventive dentistry professionals.
Despite this variety, it’s hard to pinpoint which mouth guard will align with your unique care requirements without a good view on the main factors.
Types
- Stock mouth protectors: Readily available but offer minimal customization and might wear rather quickly.
- Boil-and-bite models: Allow you to mold the biting guard after heating.
- Custom-fitted options: Come in two subtypes. Professional ones from the dentist’s office and direct-to-customer options that require you to visit a dentist or mail your dental impressions.
Materials
Materials used in mouth guards range from plastic to rubber. Thickness and toughness are crucial aspects to consider. A thicker guard can offer better protection from biting but may compromise comfort.
Many are labeled BPA-free and latex-free to avoid allergenic components. BPA is known to have endocrine-disrupting effects, while latex can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Avoid these materials if you want to save your health and reduce the risk of cheek infection.
Price
Prices for mouth guards can vary significantly depending on the type and material. Stock protectors are generally the most affordable. Boil-and-bite models offer a middle-ground solution in terms of cost and effectiveness against biting.
Custom-fitted options, while highly effective and recommended by health specialists, can be very expensive. Direct-to-customer options can be half as expensive compared to those from the dental office but still as effective in preventing you from biting your cheek.
Other Methods To Prevent Cheek Biting Habit
Changing Your Sleeping Position
Sleeping on your back can minimize the chances of cheek biting, especially if you tend to move your jaws during sleep. When you sleep on your side or stomach, your cheeks are more likely to get caught between your teeth, which increases the likelihood of unintentional biting.
By adopting a supine position, you create fewer opportunities for your cheeks to get in the way. Another significant benefit of sleeping on your back for overall health is that it also aligns your spine, ensuring better posture.
Additionally, sleeping on your back can ease other symptoms like sleep apnea and tongue biting, which is proven to reduce stress in women, men, and kids. Indirectly, this helps to reduce stress and the consequent urge to bite your cheeks.
Creating a Bedtime Routine
A well-planned bedtime routine can play a pivotal role in reducing stress, which is often a trigger for cheek biting. Practices like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, can prepare your mind for a restful sleep. A relaxed mind is less likely to engage in stress-related behaviors like cheek biting.
Incorporate activities that can help distract you from the habitual act of cheek biting. Reading a book or engaging in other non-stimulating activities can offer a break from overthinking, which is often the underlying cause of anxiety and stress that lead to cheek biting. Activities like these not only enrich your mind but also divert it from harmful habits.
Avoiding Certain Foods and Beverages
Some foods and beverages can exacerbate the habit of biting. For instance, consuming caffeine and alcohol can make you anxious or lower your self-control, respectively. These states can make you more susceptible to cheek biting.
Opt for a diet rich in water, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as these foods can promote overall well-being and reduce stress. Reducing stress can, in turn, minimize the likelihood of engaging in stress-related behaviors like biting on your cheek.
Benefits of Using a Cheek Biting Night Guard
While other oral care methods like changing your sleeping position, having a good bedtime routine, or avoiding certain foods may help, using a night guard specifically designed to reduce biting your cheek is the most effective way to go. Night guards offer a barrier that keeps your cheeks safe, providing both immediate and long-term relief.
Worth noting that similar benefits can be acheived with a mouth guard for tongue biting.
Stopping Tissue Damage
Wearing a night guard can effectively stop the tissue damage caused by biting on your cheek. The guard acts as a physical barrier between your teeth and the inner cheek, preventing the abrasion and small cuts that lead to tissue degradation.
Reduces Inflammation
Chronic cheek biting can lead to swelling and inflammation of the inner cheek. A night guard minimizes this problem by reducing the instances of biting, thereby lessening irritation and the consequent inflammation.
Prevents Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
Night guards are not only effective in preventing cheek biting but also help in mitigating teeth grinding and jaw clenching. By keeping the upper and lower teeth separated, a night guard helps in reducing the wear and tear.
Helps with Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Some specialized types of night guards can even assist in treating sleep apnea and snoring. They push the lower jaw forward, thereby opening up the airway to facilitate easier breathing, which in turn helps mitigate apnea symptoms and reduces snoring.
Types of Cheek Biting Night Guards
In addition to general mouth guards, specific types of night guards are optimized for preventing cheek biting. These can be broadly categorized into three types, each suitable for different needs based on the severity of your biting issue, mouth size, and other oral conditions.
Soft Night Guard: Made from soft Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) material, this teeth guard offers protection against grinding, clenching, and cheek biting. It’s a good fit for individuals with mild to moderate biting issues who need something more effective than over-the-counter options. Those with moderate teeth grinding or clenching might find this type serves them well.
Tongue and Cheek-Biting Relief Mouth Guard: This custom-fitted option suits people with severe cheek biting tendencies and provides targeted relief. The soft padding prevents protects the cheek area, facilitating faster healing. Individuals with unique dental anatomy requiring a custom fit could find this type to be an ideal solution.
Heavy-Duty Guard: Designed specifically for individuals who engage in heavy teeth grinding and clenching, in addition to cheek biting, this guard is thicker and more durable. It’s well-suited for those with larger mouths or who are dealing with multiple oral issues, offering comprehensive protection and robust construction that endures under extreme conditions
When Not to Use a Night Guard
While night guards serve as an excellent tool for mitigating oral issues, there are instances where using one may not be the best solution. Cheek biting specifically can stem from emotional factors such as stress or anxiety.
In these cases, a mouth guard could prevent tissue damage but won’t address the underlying emotional triggers. Counseling or stress management techniques are more effective in tandem with a mouth guard.
Additionally, individuals with specific dental conditions like gum disease, loose teeth, or untreated cavities should consult a dentist before using a mouth guard.
TOP 8 Night Guards To Prevent Cheek Biting
#1 Pro Teeth Guard
Pro Teeth Guard is the best cheek-biting mouthpiece. It’s custom-made and personalized with an at-home impression kit. You simply mail the impressions back to the manufacturer (shipping included), and they send you the finalized mouthpiece. Pro Teeth ensures you will stop biting your cheeks. Oh, and the brand uses only dental-grade, BPA, and latex-free materials.
Positive Insights About The Product: The use of dental-grade materials and an extraordinary 110% money-back guarantee stand out. The established brand reputation adds to its credibility against cheekbiting.
Negative Insights About The Product: Pro Teeth custom-made guards can be more expensive initially, but they offer better long-term value and fit.
#2 Remi
Made in the USA from dental-grade, BPA-free plastic, Remi offers custom teeth guards for a wide range of problems, including tongue chewing and cheek biting. Every Remi mouth guard review highlights it as an affordable custom night guard option.
Positive Insights About The Product: Being made in the USA from dental-grade material is a plus, as is the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Negative Insights About The Product: A 30-day guarantee might be short for some people to fully evaluate the product’s effectiveness.
#3 Chomper Labs
Chomper Labs’ night guards are crafted from FDA-approved, non-allergenic, latex, and BPA-free materials. Chomper Labs works by providing an impression kit which is surprisingly accurate even compared to expensive procedures at a dental office.
Positive Insights About The Product: Affordability and the 100% satisfaction guarantee make Chomper Labs a competitive choice. The use of FDA-approved materials is a bonus.
Negative Insights About The Product: Even though it’s more affordable, the price point may not reflect the durability compared to more expensive options.
#4 Sentinel Mouthguards
Sentinel offers custom-fit guards made from high-quality, BPA-free, and latex-free materials. Sentinel mouth helps with various conditions as they provide a variety of options, including soft, hard, and hybrid.
Positive Insights About The Product: The variety of types and the use of high-quality materials give Sentinel an edge.
Negative Insights About The Product: A 30-day money-back guarantee is somewhat limited compared to competitors offering more extended guarantees.
#5 Brux
While Brux can be effective for cheek-biting, its boil-and-bite technology is imprecise. Some people might not stop biting their cheeks or feel uncomfortable with this mouth guard. Still, Brux is an affordable and somewhat personalized option. Using Brux mouth guard can help with teeth grinding, clenching, and cheek biting.
Positive Insights About The Product: The affordability, at-home molding process, and a variety of options, including daytime and nighttime guards, make Brux an attractive choice.
Negative Insights About The Product: The boil-and-bite technology may not offer as precise a fit as custom-made appliances in a dental shop.
#6 Teeth Night Guard
Teeth Night Guard offers custom-made solutions crafted from dental-grade, BPA-free, and latex-free materials. These night guards are designed to combat teeth grinding, clenching, and biting.
Positive Insights About The Product:
The 110% money back guarantee is a strong selling point. The affordability compared to dental office options makes this a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Negative Insights About The Product:
Though more affordable, It might not be durable in long term.
#7 Ampower Dental Lab
Ampower Dental Lab specializes in custom-made night guards that address teeth grinding, clenching, and cheek biting. Their guards are made from dental-grade, BPA-free, and latex-free materials.
Positive Insights About The Product:
The use of dental-grade materials and the 100% satisfaction guarantee add credibility to Ampower Dental Lab. The affordability compared to dentist-provided options is also a plus.
Negative Insights About The Product:
As with other affordable options, there may be concerns about durability and fit compared to higher-priced alternatives.
#8 Cheeky
Cheeky Mouth Guard is marketed as an affordable custom night guard service. It has garnered positive reviews on both Amazon and their website. My Cheeky Guard review also praises the product as affordable.
Positive Insights About The Product:
Positive customer reviews and an affordable price point.
Negative Insights About The Product:
They provide limited information for potential buyers.
