Will a football mouth guard work instead of a specialized guard for teeth grinding?

It might: These mouth guards may be a tad harder than the prescribed ones tho.

Football Mouthguard?: They can work in dire circumstances of pronounced muscle pain, and then only for a few days. Generally, they actually make jaw and TMJ pain worse.

For teeth only: While more inexpensive, the sports guard will protect the teeth, but it has been shown that these appliances may actually induce more instances of clenching and grinding. You are much better off having an appliance fabricated and adjusted to your bite vs. A one size fits all approach.

No: Sports mouth guars are designed to prevent dramatic damage to teeth and surrounding tissues, and to reduce the chance of concussion. Occlusal Orthotics are designed to help stabilize your occlusion, prevent untoward wear, and protect the jaw joint. Over-use of an athletic mouthguard can actually cause joint damage. Would you use an Ace elbow support for a damaged knee? See your Dentist for Rx.

No: you will need a specific mouthguard to address your grinding that a dentist or orthodontist can provide

No!: a football or other athletic mouth guard is designed to cushion the shock of a block or tackle. It does not let the jaws move freely. It is possible that wearing such a mouth guard will make your jaws hurt because your muscles are fighting to move . A qualified TMJ dentist will make a night splint for you that will make you feel better.