In this article
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nermeen Khazan, BDS — an AHPRA-registered dental practitioner, for clinical accuracy.
Grinding your teeth doesn't pause just because you're mid-treatment. If you're in braces or wearing clear aligners and you also grind at night, the obvious question is whether a standard night guard is even compatible with what's already in your mouth.
Can You Wear a Night Guard With Braces?
Generally, no, not a standard custom night guard. Braces have brackets and wires fixed to the tooth surface, and a guard moulded to fit smoothly over your teeth simply can't accommodate that hardware. Forcing a standard night guard over braces risks damaging both the guard and the brackets.
If you're in braces and grinding is a genuine concern, this is a conversation for your orthodontist rather than something to solve with an off-the-shelf product. They may recommend a specific type of guard designed to work around brackets, or advise on managing it a different way until your braces come off.
Can You Wear a Night Guard With Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners already function as a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth while you're wearing them, which is one of the reasons many active aligner patients don't notice grinding as an issue during treatment. If you're wearing your aligners as prescribed overnight, you generally don't need a separate night guard on top of them.
The situation changes once treatment finishes. Aligners come off, you move into a retainer, and if you're a grinder, that retainer is going to take the same kind of punishment your natural teeth would have. This is exactly the crossover point where a lot of people first need a proper night guard.
Getting the Order of Operations Right
If you're finishing aligner treatment and know you grind, the sensible approach is: retainer first, then assess. Wear your retainer consistently and see how it holds up. If it's showing wear, cracking, or you're waking up with jaw soreness, that's your sign to add a dedicated night guard into the rotation alongside it — not instead of it. The retainer keeps your teeth in position; the night guard protects against grinding forces. They do different jobs and most heavy grinders coming off aligner treatment end up needing both.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have braces and I grind my teeth. What should I do?
Speak with your orthodontist. A standard custom night guard isn't designed to fit over brackets and wires, so this needs a solution specific to your treatment rather than an off-the-shelf guard.
Do clear aligners protect against grinding?
To an extent, yes — while you're wearing them, aligners create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth similar to what a night guard does. This protection ends once treatment finishes and the aligners come off.
I just finished aligner treatment and I grind my teeth. Do I need a retainer or a night guard?
Both, most likely. Your retainer holds your teeth in their new position and is not designed to withstand heavy grinding forces long-term. If you're a moderate to heavy grinder, a dedicated night guard worn alongside your retainer protects both your teeth and your retainer from unnecessary wear.
Can grinding damage my retainer after aligner treatment?
Yes. Retainers are thin and not built to absorb sustained grinding forces the way a night guard is. Heavy grinders often find their retainer wears through, cracks, or warps far faster than expected if there's no additional night guard protection in place.
Stop Grinding. Start Protecting.
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