How to Care for Your Night Guards

Jun 01 , 2022

Night guards become indispensable to protecting your teeth from the harmful effects of teeth grinding and jaw clenching because of bruxism. When you have a custom-made nightguard from your dentist, caring for it correctly is essential to ensure it continues protecting your teeth for as long as possible. Therefore, your everyday oral health regimen must also include cleaning your night guard.

If you did not receive appropriate instructions on the cleaning, this article provides complete advice on cleaning your night guard to make it remain in great shape for years.

Cleaning Night Guards Appropriately

Brush the Night Guard with a Toothbrush

When you remove the night guard from your mouth in the morning, rinse it and give the device a light brushing with your regular toothbrush. If you prefer, you can have a separate toothbrush for the night guard. However, it is acceptable to use your regular toothbrush for cleaning. Do not consider using toothpaste on the appliance for brushing. Toothpaste contains abrasive agents that can scratch the night guard and make them wear out quickly. Instead, consider using a daily cleanser or soap for the night guard.

Rinse the Night Guard Immediately after Removing It from Your Mouth

Every time you wear the appliance, you should rinse it with warm water soon after removing it from your mouth. The rinsing helps remove debris and loosen dental plaque stuck to the device.

Allow the Night Guard to Dry after Cleaning

Allowing your night guard to dry entirely before storing it is essential to prevent bacterial growth rapidly. You must select a thin and flat surface to enable the device to dry, which might require 15 to 30 minutes.

Use a Case to Store the Night Guard

When you are not using the night guard, do not consider storing it in the bathroom or any other place. Improper storage of the night guard can cause it to warp over time. The Saint Lawrence dentist providing your night guard also provides a storage case for you to use. Remember, if you have pets at home, your dental appliance is at risk of damage, and the storage case can prevent them from accessing your dental device. You must also avoid storing the night guard in scorching or freezing temperatures.

Deep Clean Your Night Guard Weekly

The dental clinic in downtown Toronto recommends you make it a habit of deep cleaning your night guard weekly. You can accomplish this task using various techniques. You can use an over-the-counter denture cleanser for this purpose. You must place the night guard in a bowl with water, add the cleanser, and allow the night guard to dissolve entirely in the water.

Using a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide also helps deep clean your dental appliance. You can use distilled white vinegar to soak the night guard for at least 30 minutes. After that, you can rinse the device and the bowl with water and soak it in hydrogen peroxide for another 30 minutes. After completing it, rinse the night guard with water and allow it to dry completely.

If your night guard needs a comprehensive cleaning, the downtown Toronto dental clinic can help you for a small fee.

You must remember not to leave your night guard soaking in any solution for over an hour. Extending the soaking time damages the materials that helped make the night guard. Furthermore, do not use alcohol-based solutions to soak the night guard, including some popular mouthwashes.

Now that we have spoken about your dental appliance, what about the storage case provided by the St Lawrence dentist to keep your night guard safe and secure? Cleaning your night guard and storing it in a dirty case will waste the effort in the cleanup. Therefore cleaning the storage case is also a requirement that you cannot overlook.

You don’t need to use your toothbrush or cleansers for the storage case. Instead, use your hands and any dishwasher and clean it every few days to ensure you have a sterile case for storing a clean night guard. After washing the storage case, allow it to dry to prevent bacterial growth. Most importantly, avoid placing the storage case in a dishwasher because the higher temperature might melt or warp the plastic.

Night guards are durable, especially when you have them custom-created by Monarch Dentistry. However, durability varies on several factors. The average lifespan of a night guard is approximately five years. However, the wear and tear the device is subjected to might require faster replacements in roughly a year.