If you are looking up the proper way to clean your night guard, then, congratulations, you must be wearing it! Not only are you protecting your teeth from the wear and tear caused by grinding, but you are also looking out for your oral health when you choose to clean your night guard properly. Plus, a night guard that is properly cared for lasts longer!
Keeping your night guard (or mouth guard) clean and sanitary really isn't very hard, but it is important to set yourself a routine and stick to it. It's easy to let things slide when you are tired or in a rush, but both your teeth and the night guard will suffer. The key here is consistency.
Let’s walk you through the process step-by-step, and I promise you'll be surprised by how easy it is to keep your night guard clean.
Rinse and lightly brush the night guard after wearing it.
When you remove your night guard in the morning, rinse it under warm water and brush it gently with a toothbrush. You can use toothpaste but be sure it is non-abrasive toothpaste, and only use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
You do not want to create scratches on the night guard by using tough bristles or abrasive toothpaste because scratches (even tiny ones) will give bacteria more places to attached themselves to the night guard in future. Plus, scratches will ruin the smooth surface that the guard offers to your teeth.
Let your night guard air dry.
Drying your mouth guard before storing it will help keep bacteria from growing on it over the course of the day. So, after you rinse and brush it, let it dry on top of its case for a couple minutes before you put it away. You can do this while you wash your face, brush your teeth, or shower.
Make sure, however, not to forget to put away your night guard. You don't want it sitting out exposed to anything that might splash on it over the course of the day. Nor do you want your pet to come along and decide it looks like a good chew toy (really, you'd be surprised!).
Deep clean your night guard and case once a week.
Once a week, you should give your night guard a deeper clean (and clean your case – bacteria can grow in there, too). To do this, you can use vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, or mouthwash, or a solution made specifically for your night guard (or for dentures).
If you are using vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, place your night guard in the vinegar first - you can do this by using a bowl or by using the night guard's case. It is good to use the case, because then you clean the case at the same time - two birds with one stone! Let the night guard soak for 30 minutes. Rinse it with water, then soak it in the hydrogen peroxide for another 20-30 minutes.
If using mouthwash, you'll want to combine a capful of mouthwash with enough water to cover the mouth guard. Soak your night guard for about 30 minutes. If using a solution for dentures or night guards, just follow the directions on the packaging.
If you have a special, anti-microbial case, your case may have special care instructions of its own. So, be sure to look at those before involving your case in the cleaning process.
Never soak your night guard overnight or all day long. It is not good for the materials to be exposed for that long to the cleaning agents.
Bring your night guard to your dental appointments.
It is a good idea to bring your night guard with you when you see your dentist in order to get a sense of whether you need to replace it or not. Night guards wear down, scratch, and crack over time, and the length of time you can use your night guard depends on how aggressively you grind your teeth and how well you take care of the night guard.
If you feel like it might be time to replace it, it probably is. But you can always get the guidance of your dentist by bringing your night guard with you to your appointments. Then, your dentist can make sure it is still fitting you well and working as intended.
Get your night guard straight from the lab.
While it is great to have the guidance of your dentist, you do not always need to go through your dentist when ordering your night guard. In fact, you can save a lot of money by ordering directly from Teeth Night Guard.
Instead of paying for your dentist to take an impression of your teeth, you’ll do it yourself with an easy-to-use kit. Then, the lab will send you your custom-made night guard directly.
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HARD ACRYLIC 2MM -3MM DENTAL NIGHT GUARD - HARD AND RIGID GUARD(CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE ON ORDER PAGE TO SELECT THICKNESS)
$139.99
Item Number HARDMG Manufacturer Sparkling White Smiles Dental Lab Rating Product Description 2mm - 3mm Hard Acrylic Professionally made Custom Night Guard Our Custom Teeth Night Guards are BPA, Latex and Phthalate Free Night Guard designed for severe teeth grinding/bruxism. This Night Guard… Read More