Which Feels Better: Custom Vs. Boil-And-Bite Mouthguards?

The boil-and-bite kind of started smelling funky after a while no matter how much I scrubbed it (TMI?).

Not TMI at all - those things get gross fast. I had one that ended up smelling like a wet sock after about a month, even with daily cleaning. The custom ones definitely win on the hygiene front. Ever try soaking yours in mouthwash? It helped a bit for me, but not enough to stick with it long-term.

I totally relate to the “mouthful of plastic” feeling too. My jaw was happier with the custom fit, but my wallet sure wasn’t.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I tried the mouthwash soak too, even tossed mine in a denture cleaner once... didn’t do much for the stink. The custom one felt way better, but yeah, the price stings. Still, I noticed I was clenching less at night because it actually fit right. The boil-and-bite just felt bulky and awkward, like I had to keep adjusting it with my tongue. Not sure if it’s just me, but the hassle of cleaning those cheap ones drove me nuts after a while.

Man, the cleaning thing is so real. I swear those boil-and-bite ones just soak up every bit of funk, no matter what you try. I even left one in a cup of baking soda overnight - still smelled weird. The custom guard was a wallet hit for sure, but I barely notice it when I’m sleeping. Did you ever get that dry mouth thing with the cheap ones? Mine always made me wake up feeling like I’d been chewing on cotton balls.

Mine always made me wake up feeling like I’d been chewing on cotton balls.

That cotton mouth feeling is the worst. I’ve seen a lot of folks complain about that with the over-the-counter guards - guess it’s because they don’t fit quite right, so you end up breathing through your mouth more. I actually tried a boil-and-bite when I was in school (trying to save a buck), and no matter how much I cleaned it, there was always that stale funk. The custom ones are pricey, yeah, but honestly, the comfort and not waking up parched every morning made it worth it for me. You’re not alone in that struggle.

Yeah, I totally relate to the “chewing on cotton balls” description. Those boil-and-bite guards always felt like wearing a sweaty flip-flop in my mouth - never could get used to it. I actually tried trimming mine with scissors once, thinking maybe I could make it fit better (spoiler: I just made it sharper and way more uncomfortable). Ended up drooling half the night and still woke up with that weird dry-mouth thing.

Switching to a custom guard was a game-changer, but dang, that price tag hurt. Still, I guess I’d rather pay upfront than keep waking up feeling like I’ve been sucking on sandpaper. Funny thing is, even with the custom one, if I forget to drink enough water before bed, I still sometimes get a bit of dryness... but nothing compared to the old days.

Anyone else notice the boil-and-bite ones pick up weird smells no matter how much you clean them? Mine always seemed to have this rubbery funk that just wouldn’t quit. Maybe it’s just me being picky, but it was enough to make me switch for good.