{"id":598,"date":"2026-05-27T08:36:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T08:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/?p=598"},"modified":"2026-05-27T08:36:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T08:36:59","slug":"heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Nightguard<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, or sore teeth, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep. This condition, known as bruxism, is incredibly common and can put a surprising amount of pressure on your smile over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people do not even realize they grind their teeth until their dentist notices signs of wear, cracked enamel, or tension in the jaw muscles. Left untreated, nighttime grinding can lead to chipped teeth, damaged dental work, jaw discomfort, and even TMJ problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why dentists often recommend wearing a nightguard<\/a>. While it may be tempting to pick up a cheaper version at the drugstore, there are several reasons why a professionally made nightguard is often the better long-term investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Difference Between Store-Bought and Custom Nightguards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over-the-counter nightguards are designed to fit as many people as possible. Some are pre-formed, while others use a \u201cboil-and-bite\u201d method to mold the material at home. While these options may seem convenient, they are not made specifically for your bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A custom nightguard from your dentist is created using impressions or digital scans of your teeth. This allows the appliance to fit precisely and comfortably against your smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That customized fit matters more than many people realize. Teeth grinding creates powerful pressure, and an ill-fitting guard may not distribute that pressure evenly. In some cases, a poorly fitted appliance can even make clenching worse or irritate the jaw muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Custom nightguards are designed with your specific bite alignment and grinding patterns in mind, which helps provide more reliable protection for your teeth and jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better Comfort Means You\u2019re More Likely to Wear It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest complaints about over-the-counter nightguards is comfort. Bulky materials, uneven fits, and awkward positioning can make sleeping with them difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a nightguard feels uncomfortable, there\u2019s a good chance it will spend more time in the nightstand than in your mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional nightguards are typically thinner, smoother, and easier to wear because they are designed specifically for you. A more comfortable fit can make a huge difference in whether you consistently wear the appliance every night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistency is important because occasional use may not provide enough protection against ongoing grinding and clenching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Custom Nightguard Can Last Longer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Store-bought nightguards are often made from softer materials that wear down quickly under heavy grinding pressure. Some may only last a few months before needing replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Custom nightguards are generally made from more durable materials designed to handle stronger biting forces. While the upfront cost is higher, they often last significantly longer with proper care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacing multiple over-the-counter guards over time can add up quickly, especially if they do not adequately protect your teeth from damage in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A professionally made appliance is often an investment not only in comfort, but also in preventing future dental problems that could require more extensive treatment later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Dentist Can Monitor Changes Over Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another advantage of getting a nightguard through your dentist is the ongoing professional oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teeth grinding patterns can change over time, and symptoms may worsen due to stress, sleep issues, or bite changes. During regular checkups, your dentist can evaluate how your nightguard is fitting, look for signs of wear, and determine whether adjustments are needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can also identify underlying concerns that may contribute to grinding, including bite imbalances, TMJ issues, or sleep-related conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That level of personalized care is something a one-size-fits-all appliance simply cannot provide. Protecting your teeth now can help you avoid bigger dental problems down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Laura Philipps, DMD<\/a>, patients receive personalized, whole-body dental care designed to support both oral health and overall wellness. Dr. Laura Philipps and Dr. Marisa Ramos provide preventive, restorative, cosmetic, TMJ\/TMD, and sleep-related dental treatments tailored to each patient\u2019s needs. The practice focuses on individualized care, patient comfort, and long-term dental health in a welcoming environment in Midland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call us at (432) 570-4433 or schedule your appointment online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, or sore teeth, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep. This condition, known as bruxism, is incredibly common and can put a surprising amount of pressure on your smile over time. Many people do not even realize they grind their teeth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHere\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Laura Philipps, DMD Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-27T08:36:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-27T08:36:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"889\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"568\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"lauraphilippsdmd\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"lauraphilippsdmd\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/\",\"name\":\"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-27T08:36:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-27T08:36:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6ab197972627db571e5ec405b4da07e\"},\"description\":\"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png\",\"width\":889,\"height\":568},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Laura Philipps, DMD Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6ab197972627db571e5ec405b4da07e\",\"name\":\"lauraphilippsdmd\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0d3d3c01ccaf5d9a1234d2a56f1d2f20?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0d3d3c01ccaf5d9a1234d2a56f1d2f20?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"lauraphilippsdmd\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/author\/lauraphilippsdmd\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment","description":"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment","og_description":"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/","og_site_name":"Laura Philipps, DMD Blog","article_published_time":"2026-05-27T08:36:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-27T08:36:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":889,"height":568,"url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"lauraphilippsdmd","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"lauraphilippsdmd","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/","name":"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png","datePublished":"2026-05-27T08:36:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-27T08:36:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6ab197972627db571e5ec405b4da07e"},"description":"Considering a cheaper nightguard from the drugstore? Learn why a custom nightguard from your dentist offers better comfort, protection, durability, and long-term value for teeth grinding and clenching.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png","width":889,"height":568},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/27\/heres-why-a-nightguard-from-your-dentist-is-worth-the-investment\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Here\u2019s Why a Nightguard from Your Dentist Is Worth the Investment"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/","name":"Laura Philipps, DMD Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6ab197972627db571e5ec405b4da07e","name":"lauraphilippsdmd","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0d3d3c01ccaf5d9a1234d2a56f1d2f20?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0d3d3c01ccaf5d9a1234d2a56f1d2f20?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"lauraphilippsdmd"},"url":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/author\/lauraphilippsdmd\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=598"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":600,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598\/revisions\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}