During my senior year of college, I realized that it’s not normal to wake up in the middle of the night with splitting headaches and jaw pain. After a quick consultation with my dentist, I learned that I’m one of 40 million Americans who struggle with bruxism, which is just a fancy word for teeth grinding or clenching.
There are dozens of remedies for bruxism, and luckily for you, I went through the exhausting and expensive process so you don’t have to. After years of trial-and-error, I found Cheeky: an affordable custom night guard company that sends replacements straight to your door every three months. Here’s how Cheeky stacks up to the other options out there:
Cheeky vs. Over-the-Counter Night Guards (AKA Boil and Bites)
I initially thought my issues with these stemmed from operator error. Then I realized that whoever designed boil and bite night guards never had any teeth grinding issues. As the bulkiest, most ill-fitting, and most uncomfortable option available, I would often wake up in more pain after wearing one of these than nights I wore nothing at all. To top it off, the poor fit actually made my teeth start to shift, reversing the work of my middle-school braces.
Why Cheeky is better: they use 3D scanning and printing technology to create custom night guards that mold to your teeth perfectly. Customers can choose between a hard and soft guard, and a number of different thicknesses — although even the thickest 3.0mm option is so comfortable that I barely remember it’s there. Unlike a boil and bite guard, I can even talk with in!
Cheeky vs. Going to The Dentist
When you get a custom-made nightguard from the dentist, you know it’ll be made from good quality materials and fit your teeth perfectly. Unfortunately, the process is like pulling teeth and can take up to two months! Going to the dentist is inconvenient and uncomfortable, and custom dental night guards can cost anywhere from $300-$1000 out of pocket. If insurance does cover them (mine did not), you’re likely stuck with that guard for a few years.
Cheeky is the superior option across the board. Their FDA-approved materials are dental-grade, which means their night guards are indistinguishable from dentist-made ones. They send the impression kit to your home, so all you have to do is create the impressions, mail them back, and wait for your custom night guards to arrive. No more trips back and forth to the dentist for adjustments either — if your guards don’t fit perfectly, Cheeky will send another kit for free! My favorite part: Cheeky is more affordable at just $49 for the first impression kit, AND they accept FSA/HSA insurance.
Cheeky vs. Other Custom Online Night Guard Brands
I tried a couple of different brands I found online before finding Cheeky. While the other companies use dental-grade, BPA and latex-free materials too, I found that they fell short when it comes to customization options and user experience. I liked the idea of getting a new night guard every three months, so I tried Remi first. But after about six weeks I wore down the thin 1.00mm option I chose. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that they only have a 30-day return policy, so I was out of luck.
I decided to go the opposite route when I tried ClearClub, and selected their thickest 3.0mm option, noting that their return policy was a bit longer at 60 days (however, they only send replacements every six months). The only issue was, the hard plastic was too tough on my teeth, so I just stopped wearing them altogether.
Why I Chose Cheeky
After hours of research, I decided to try out Cheeky because they offer the most customization options, a very generous return policy, and they send a fresh night guard every three months. Unlike the other companies I tried, Cheeky offers two different hardness options for teeth grinders in addition to three different thicknesses—a hard/soft combo option like the other companies, and a soft, thermoplastic option (which is most popular).
With free shipping and free returns at any time, I knew that I could trust Cheeky to stand by their product. I decided to try out their 3.00mm soft option, and the difference was instantly noticeable. Plus, the turnaround time was faster than the other options I tried. I received my impression kit in three days, and I was stunned when I received my custom night guards a little over a week after I sent my impressions back.
TL;DR: When it comes to cost, convenience, customization, and customer experience, Cheeky is the only brand I trust.
My teeth grinding pain has virtually disappeared, and I wake up in the morning feeling well-rested. I’m a Cheeky customer for life!
