Tongue biting is more than just a minor annoyance. It’s a troublesome oral health disorder that can result in pain, injury, and infection. Traditional methods to prevent this issue can be ineffective or inconvenient, leaving many people in a state of constant discomfort.

Mouthguards emerge as the most practical and efficient solution to this problem. This article serves as a comprehensive review of the top eight mouthguards to help you keep tongue biting at bay.

Why Do We Bite Our Tongues?

Biting one’s tongue typically happens accidentally, but when it occurs frequently, it becomes an oral health concern. It can be triggered by various factors, such as stress, misaligned teeth, or even sleep disorders. Various healthcare experts confirm that frequent tongue biting can result in long-term damage to the tongue and surrounding tissues.

What Problems Does a Bitten Tongue Cause?

When you bite your tongue repeatedly, the consequences go beyond temporary discomfort. Pain is the most immediate problem, which can range from mild to excruciating.

Bleeding is another issue, often requiring immediate attention to prevent excessive blood loss. Swelling can occur, making it hard to talk or eat. Infection is a serious risk as well, particularly if the tongue isn’t properly cleaned after a bite.

Scalloping, a less commonly discussed issue, refers to the formation of wavy or ridged edges along the sides of the tongue, typically due to pressing against the teeth. Scalloping can lead to discomfort and changes in how the tongue rests in the mouth.

If these symptoms persist or worsen, consult a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment. But you should consider investing in a mouthguard as doctors frequently recommend them as a preventive measure against tongue biting.

Why You Should Treat Tongue Biting?

Ignoring tongue-biting is not an option. Treating tongue-biting habits effectively relieves pain and allows easier speaking and eating. Most importantly, timely intervention can prevent bacterial infections that could otherwise be serious.

The treatment aids in the natural healing process, speeding up recovery times. In turn, mouth guards improve your quality of life by eliminating a persistent source of discomfort and concern.

A well-fitted mouthguard can be an effective solution. By reducing the chance of accidental bites, mouthguards contribute to less pain, lower infection rates, faster healing, and a higher overall quality of life.

How Does a Mouthguard Help?

Ignoring tongue-biting is not an option. Treating tongue-biting habits effectively relieves pain and allows easier speaking and eating. Most importantly, timely intervention can prevent bacterial infections that could otherwise be serious.

The treatment aids in the natural healing process, speeding up recovery times. In turn, mouth guards improve your quality of life by eliminating a persistent source of discomfort and concern.

Night guards are especially beneficial for managing tongue biting during sleep. They act as a physical barrier, minimizing the likelihood of accidentally biting your tongue while you’re unaware, thus enhancing the quality of your rest.

A well-fitted mouthguard can be an effective solution. By reducing the chance of accidental bites, mouthguards contribute to less pain, lower infection rates, faster healing, and a higher overall quality of life.

Buyer’s Guide on Choosing the Best Mouthguard For Tongue Biting

Selecting the right mouthguard is a critical step in treating tongue biting effectively. Numerous factors need consideration, from the type of mouthguard to the materials used and the price point. Worth noting, that similar considerations come in when looking for a mouth guard for clenching teeth.

Let’s break down these factors in greater detail.

Types

There are three main types of mouthguards:

• Stock mouthguards
• Boil-and-bite mouthguards
• Custom-fitted mouthguards that can be further categorized into dental grade and direct to customer

Stock mouthguards are the most affordable but offer the least amount of protection due to their generic fit. Boil-and-bite mouthguards provide a more personalized fit. You soften them in hot water and then bite them down to mold them to your teeth.

Custom-fitted mouthguards are designed by dental professionals to fit your mouth precisely. They can be made either in a dental office or at a lab from the impressions you make at home. They offer the highest level of comfort and protection but are the most costly.

Materials

Mouthguards are typically made from a range of materials like acrylic, latex, and different kinds of plastics. Each material has its pros and cons. Acrylic mouthguards are durable but can be rigid and uncomfortable.

Latex is softer and allows for better airflow but may trigger allergies in some people. Plastics like ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) offer a good balance of comfort and durability but may require replacement sooner. Ensure you check the material specifics before making your purchase.

Price

The price of a mouthguard varies significantly based on its type and the material used. Stock mouthguards can cost as low as $5 to $20, but their generic fit makes them less effective for tongue biting. Boil-and-bite models range between $20 and $60, offering a better fit at a moderate cost.

You can purchase a custom-fitted mouthguard for tongue biting from $100 to $200. They are more pricey but are the most effective. If you really have money to spare, you can order one at an orthodontics lab, but their costs, including visit expenses, can cost $1000 or more. Considering their price, it is worth trying to buy custom devices online as they will likely be as effective.

Other Methods To Prevent Tongue Biting and Bruxism

Stress Management

Stress is a major contributor to both tongue biting and bruxism. Stress management techniques, like mindfulness and meditation, can help you control the physical manifestations of stress. However, stress management requires consistent practice and may not provide immediate relief like a mouthguard does.

Dental Alignment

Misaligned teeth can contribute to tongue biting and bruxism. Orthodontic interventions like braces or retainers can solve this issue. While effective, these treatments can be costly and time-consuming, unlike the relatively quick and affordable solution that a mouthguard provides.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea often exacerbates tongue biting during sleep. Treatments like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines or oral devices designed to open the airway can be effective. These treatments are often more specialized and expensive, making mouthguards a cost-effective alternative for those without severe sleep apnea.

Behavioral Therapy

Habitual bitten tongue can sometimes be addressed through behavioral therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While effective for some, these therapies require time and possibly multiple sessions with a healthcare provider. In contrast, mouthguards offer immediate relief and are less demanding on your time.

Mewing and Tongue Posture

Mewing is a practice of correctly alligning your tongue to shape your face muslces and improve the jawline. As mewing involves chaning the position of your tongue, it also can help you to avoid tongue biting as an indirect consequence to other health benefits of mewing. It is worth to look into mewing and correct tongue posture even if you are planing to buy a mouth guard for nighttime.

Medication or Surgery

In extreme cases, medication or even surgical interventions may be required. These options can be effective but come with their own risks, such as side effects or complications from surgery. Mouthguards are non-invasive and free from such risks, making them a safer, more straightforward option for most people.

Benefits of Using a Tongue Biting Night Guard

Utilizing a mouth guard specifically designed to prevent tongue biting offers advantages that extend beyond the physical protection. These benefits not only enhance oral health but also contribute to an general well-being. In addition, they serve as a straightforward solution to a problem that could otherwise require more complex and costly interventions.

Protection from Biting

The primary benefit of a tongue biting night guard is that it serves as a physical barrier between your teeth and tongue. This minimizes the likelihood of accidental bites, which can be particularly frequent during sleep when you have less control over jaw movement.

Infection Prevention

By reducing the incidence of tongue biting, a night guard helps to lower the risk of infection. Open wounds in the mouth can easily become infected if not properly managed. The guard acts as a preventive measure, keeping your tongue safe from cuts that could serve as entry points for bacteria.

Helps Healing

If you’ve recently bitten your tongue, continued biting can delay the healing process. A night guard helps to protect existing injuries, providing a safer environment for the healing to occur more quickly and effectively.

Provides Comfort

A well-fitted mouthguard is comfortable to wear and can alleviate the stress and discomfort associated with frequent tongue biting. Knowing you’re less likely to harm yourself can also contribute to better quality sleep.

Prevents Teeth Grinding and Cheek Biting

Beyond protecting your tongue, many tongue biting night guards also offer the added benefit of preventing cheek biting and teeth grinding (or bruxism). This not only saves your teeth from wear but also helps to reduce jaw pain and headaches that often accompany bruxism.

Enhances Sleep Quality

Reduced tongue biting and teeth grinding lead to better sleep quality. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re protected can help you fall asleep faster and enjoy a deeper, more restful sleep.

Improves Mental Well-Being

The cycle of tongue biting and its resulting pain can create a psychological burden. The simple act of inserting a night guard before sleep can offer an immediate sense of relief, contributing to improved mental well-being.

When To Avoid Night Guards?

While night guards are generally effective for preventing tongue biting, there are certain conditions and scenarios when their use may not be advisable. It’s important to recognize these exceptions to ensure you’re not doing more harm than good.

If you have an overbite or underbite: A night guard may not fit properly, causing discomfort and potentially worsening the issue. In such a case, a partial guard might be an option.

If you have a small or unusually structured mouth: Improper fit can result in discomfort or even choking hazards. That’s why it is important to customize your night guard well.

If you have a strong gag reflex: Wearing a night guard could trigger your gag reflex, leading to discomfort or vomiting.

If you’re allergic to the materials: Some have allergic reactions to the polymers, latex, or thermoplastic material in mouth guards. Make sure that the mouth protectors you wear do not have anything that might cause an allergy to you.

If you have open wounds or severe infections inside the mouth: Using a mouth guard might irritate or infect open sores or cuts. In such a case, it’s better to seek medical attention first.

TOP 8 Night Guards To Prevent Tongue Biting

#1 Pro Teeth Guard

Pro Teeth Guard offers a custom dental night guard that stands out for its dual-layer design. With a hard exterior and soft interior, it is suitable for moderate to heavy teeth grinding and clenching. Many positive customer reviews praise its durability.

Positive Insights About Pro Teeth Guard

Pro Teeth mouth guard offers an innovative design with a hard outside and a soft inside, effectively tackling both heavy grinding and providing comfort. It’s professionally made and custom-fitted, meaning you get a product tailored to your needs. The product also comes with a 110% money-back guarantee, giving consumers added confidence in their purchase.

Negative Insights About Pro Teeth Guard

Their hard and hybrid night guards might be somewhat bulky for some users. However, 110% money-back guarantee also means that if you’re dissatisfied, you can get a refund.

#2 Remi

Remi provides custom night guards that stand out for their affordability and dual functionality. The guards are made from a unique hard-soft material, offering the best of both protection and comfort. To keep the product fresh and effective, Remi’s replacement program sends new night guards every six months.

Positive Insights About Remi

Remi mouth guard ensures a balance between adequate protection against teeth grinding and tongue biting and comfort. Remi also offers a cost-effective solution, being up to 80% cheaper than dentist-provided alternatives. The whitening feature is an added bonus, letting you lighten your teeth as you sleep. 

Negative Insights About Remi

Some customers have reported issues with the fit. However, the issue of fit can often be specific to individual experiences, but it should work well enough for preventing tongue biting.

#3 Chomper Labs

Chomper Labs offers a custom-made night guard designed to combat teeth grinding and tongue biting. The guards are constructed using durable, high-quality materials, ensuring both comfort and effectiveness. A standout feature is their recommender tool, which aids in selecting a guard that fits your specific needs.

Positive Insights About Chomper Labs

Chomper Labs guards are crafted from durable, high-quality materials, guaranteeing both longevity and effectiveness against tongue biting and teeth grinding. They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and customer reviews indicate their effectiveness. Using Chomper Labs mouth guard is very convenient as the entire process, from ordering to receiving the product, is streamlined for user convenience.

Negative Insights About Chomper Labs

If you have an overbite or underbite, you might experience fit issues with Chomper Labs night guards. However, this drawback is somewhat mitigated by their custom-fit approach and the recommender tool.

#4 Brux

Brux mouth guards stand out for their focus on at-home molding method. Each guard can be molded and re-molded to fit your teeth and mouth structure. The fit can be applied to both your upper and lower teeth. It restricts harmful movements and prevents tongue biting, teeth grinding, and clenching.

Positive Insights About Brux

Brux mouth guards bring together high-quality materials and individual customization to provide a superior product. Their custom fit maximizes protection against tongue or cheek biting and minimizes the chance of teeth grinding or clenching at a very affordable price point. Brux night guard cost only $59. Cleaning and maintenance are also uncomplicated, which enhances the product’s longevity.

Negative Insights About Brux

Brux mouth guards might not fit some users as they only cover your front lower or upper teeth. It is a frequent problem if you have missing or misaligned front teeth. Other guards cover all teeth and are more effective against grinding and teeth biting in this case.

#5 Sentinel Mouthguards

Sentinel Mouthguards offers custom-fit night crafted to align perfectly with the unique contours of your teeth. These night guards are often recommended for their ability to hold on your teeth during the night, thus effectively preventing tongue biting.

Positive Insights About Sentinel Mouthguards

Sentinel nigth guard costs a fraction of what the guards at a dentist’s office cost. As with professional ones, Sentinel uses materials free from harmful chemicals. Sentinel Mouthguards are a solid investment for anyone looking to address tongue biting, TMJ, or bruxism issues.

Negative Insights About Sentinel Mouthguards

Taking accurate dental impressions might be difficult, despite the many instructional videos Sentinel provides. However, the effort is worth the reward, as these custom-fit night guards provide a superior fit.

#6 Teeth Night Guard

Teeth Night Guard offers custom-made dental night guards, handcrafted by dental technicians with over 15 years of experience. Their variety of hard, soft, and dual-laminated guards offer versatile options for different levels of teeth grinding and clenching, effectively reducing the risk of tongue biting.

Positive Insights About Teeth Night Guard

TeethNightGuard shines in its selection of guard types, possibly the most extensive on the market. Their affordability is another point in their favor, making these guards accessible to a wide range of users. Detailed instructional guides for taking dental impressions at home and prompt customer service through email and phone round out their strengths.

Negative Insights About Teeth Night Guard

The 30-day money-back guarantee period could be seen as shorter compared to some competitors.

#7 Cheeky

Cheeky offers custom-fitted mouth guards designed for the specific needs of individuals suffering from teeth grinding and clenching. Using a thermoplastic material for soft guards and dental acrylic for hard guards, Cheeky aims to maximize comfort and safety while preventing tongue biting.

Positive Insights About the Product

Cheeky mouth guards stand out for their custom fit, using an impression kit sent to your home every three months. This approach ensures a continuously updated fit, enhancing comfort and effectiveness. The guards are not only affordable but also made from great materials. Their custom sports mouth guards further are also worth mentioning as agreat addition.

Negative Insights About the Product

Cheeky’s focus on customization might initially seem a bit demanding, requiring frequent impressions every three months. However, as I argue in my Cheeky mouth guard review, this practice actually ensures that the fit of the guard is always optimal.

#8 Ampower Dental Lab

Ampower Dental Lab, also known as JS Dental, specializes in custom-made mouth guards for individuals looking to combat bruxism and teeth grinding.

Positive Insights About the Product

Ampower Dental Lab mouth guards are not just a one-size-fits-all solution. Each guard is custom-crafted to fit either the upper or lower teeth, ensuring a snug fit that brings comfort alongside protection. Adding to the value is a 365-day money-back guarantee, which serves as a safety net for your investment.

Negative Insights About the Product

One drawback to consider is that Ampower Dental Lab mouth guards are best suited for short-term use. This might lead you to think that you’ll have to replace them more frequently, which could be inconvenient. However, their 365-day money-back guarantee compensates for this, making the product a risk-free purchase for at least a year.