Millions of people worldwide experience poor sleep, yet many are unsure of the cause. Some causes are well known, while others, like bruxism, remain obscure, yet are just as important. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can happen while one is asleep, causing chipped teeth, migraines, saw jaws, and poor sleep quality. While many have overlooked this cause while studying sleep, one person has finally recognized the need to address this issue – Samuel Goodman.
Born in London, England, Samuel’s early life was full of change and new experiences. His family moved to several different countries when Samuel was a child, including Milan, Italy, and New York, USA. After he settled in New York, Samuel used his passion for new technology to create iPhone games and a high school CRM platform at age 14. These achievements were only precursors to what he would achieve later in life.
Samuel always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and would combine that with his passion for the latest technology to change people’s lives. Although his father was a successful stock broker, Samuel realized that he wanted more than financial success – he also wanted to make an impact on society. After graduating from Boston University with an undergraduate degree in Economics, Samuel sought to begin his own business.
During his research, Samuel discovered that over 20% of Americans grind their teeth and that dentists charge over $500 for a new night guard, which is usually not covered by insurance. Samuel continued to research the market and came to the conclusion that affordable night guards, which would protect teeth from grinding damage, had plenty of potential customers. From there, he was determined to find a way to manufacture affordable custom night guards to protect people’s teeth without overcharging them.
After some contemplation, Samuel realized that he could utilize 3D printing and scanning technology to make the guards, as this technology could create custom night guards for a fraction of the original price. Samuel started building a dental lab at his house, bought the necessary equipment, and hired technicians. Through the use of social media marketing and the creation of a fun brand, Samuel was able to get his first customers. From there the company – called Cheeky – took off.
To get their own custom night guard, customers need to use Cheeky’s simple home impression kit to take a mold of their teeth. After sending the mold back in the prepaid mailer, Cheeky will 3D scan the impressions and will start producing the night guard depending on the customer’s desired night guard thickness. The thickness of the guard is dependent on how hard customers grind their teeth. If clients subscribe to Cheeky’s subscription service, they can get a new guard every few months, as the guards can get dirty and bacteria-ridden.
To date, Cheeky has helped over 250k teeth grinders with their sleep and has produced over 1 million affordable custom night guards. All of the company’s labs are FDA compliant, ensuring a safe and quality product. Because of Samuel Goodman’s persistence and hard work, Cheeky is now a household name in terms of affordable oral care and teeth grinding. The company now sells other oral care products such as snore guards, teeth whitening, water floss, toothbrushes, and sports guards.
Samuel Goodman is an inspiring man who understands the importance of perseverance, patience, and hard work. His work has been recognized by others around the world, and Samuel was invited to interview at Y Combinator, just a year after launching the brand. As he continues to get better at what he does, Samuel will not stop creating new ways to improve people’s lives and hopes to build many more socially impactful brands by creating affordable products that people need. Samuel has attained many accomplishments throughout his career and remains determined to improve the quality of life of individuals worldwide.
