How To Properly Take Care of Your Night Guard

Most people who grind their teeth don’t realize that they’re doing it. This is a common problem caused primarily by stress, anxiety, TMD, or an abnormal bite. Fortunately, wearing a night guard is an easy solution. It prevents you from grinding your teeth as you sleep and reduces symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and oral health problems. If your dentist at HollowBrook Dental has recently recommend that you wear a night guard, you may be wondering how to care for it properly. 
 

When You First Get Your Night Guard
We recommend wearing it prior to falling asleep to help you adjust to the feeling.  This will help make you more comfortable until you get used to wearing it every night. Your night guard was customized specifically for your mouth and you will become more comfortable each time you wear it.
 
 How to Clean Your Night Guard After Use
Cleaning your night guard each morning should take just a couple minutes. Simply remove it from your mouth and rinse with warm water right away. You should then place a small amount of toothpaste on a soft or medium toothbrush and brush the night guard. For the last step, rinse the night guard off and place it in a dry container until you need it again the next night.
 

We provide a sturdy, plastic case to store your night guard when you’re not using it. Be sure to keep the case stored in a secure place that doesn’t get too hot or too cold. It’s best to keep the container on a high dresser in your bedroom rather than in the bathroom. That is because bathrooms are consistently humid and humidity will cause your night guard to warp.
 

Your dog, cat, or small child may be curious about what you keep in this case, especially if they have seen you take out the night guard and wear it. To prevent a pet from chewing it up or a child from breaking it, store your night guard well out of reach.

The case holding your night guard can attract bacteria just as easily as your device can. Be sure to wash it with soap and warm water at least every couple of days to keep the bacteria away.

HollowBrook Dental wishes you well with overcoming your teeth grinding habit. Call today to learn more about your Dental options.