Jaw pain, clicking, and morning headaches are often linked to clenching and grinding. Here’s what to know about using a night guard for TMJ symptoms.
By the FixUrSmile Dental Lab team · Updated September 2026
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect your lower jaw to your skull. TMJ disorders can cause jaw pain, clicking or popping, difficulty opening wide, and pain around the ear. Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) are often associated with these symptoms, but TMJ disorders can have several causes.
Oral splints and mouth guards are a common part of TMJ care. According to Mayo Clinic, many people with jaw pain benefit from wearing a soft or firm device over their teeth, although the reasons they help aren’t fully understood. A night guard also protects your teeth from wear if you grind at night.
A night guard is one tool among several. Dentists may also recommend jaw exercises, stress management, heat or cold, or other treatments depending on the cause.
| Soft | Hard / dual-laminate | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Cushioned, flexible | Firm, thinner feel |
| Typical use | Light grinding or clenching | Moderate to heavy grinding |
| Durability | Wears faster | Longer lasting |
Read more in soft, hard, and dual-laminate night guards compared.
Boil-and-bite guards are inexpensive but bulky and generic. A custom guard made from impressions of your teeth fits more precisely, which many people find more comfortable for nightly wear. Typical costs, according to GoodRx: about $20–$30 for boil-and-bite, about $50–$200 for custom guards from online labs, and about $300–$1,000 from a dentist. A FixUrSmile custom night guard is $297 per arch.
More detail: best night guard for teeth grinding.
Stop using it and talk to your dentist if any of these happen. See also signs your night guard is not working.
“TMJ splint” and “night guard” are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t always the same thing. Both are occlusal appliances, custom trays that fit over your teeth. According to Mayo Clinic, oral splints and mouth guards are among the treatments that may help some people with TMJ pain.
If you have jaw locking, clicking with pain, or pain that’s getting worse, see a dentist before choosing any guard.
Ready to order? A FixUrSmile custom night guard is $297, made from your at-home impressions. Compare prices in our night guard cost guide.
Many people with jaw pain benefit from an oral splint or mouth guard, according to Mayo Clinic, though it isn’t a cure and doesn’t help everyone. A dentist can tell you whether it fits your situation.
It depends on how heavily you grind and what your dentist recommends. Soft guards cushion light clenching; hard or dual-laminate guards last longer for heavier grinding.
A poorly fitting guard can. If your jaw pain increases or your bite changes, stop wearing it and see your dentist.
Custom night guards from a dentist typically cost about $300 to $1,000. FixUrSmile custom night guards are $297 per arch.
Made from your own impressions, $297 per arch. Made in our US dental lab from impressions you take at home, with licensed dentist approval and our Custom Fit Guarantee.
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