How to Care for My Dental Night Guard
A dental night guard is a device worn at bedtime that fits snuggly in the mouth. It's essentially used as a cushion between your upper and lower teeth to reduce the effects of grinding or clenching and to protect the teeth from damage. While there are a number of different products available, there are a few basic steps that you can employ to better care for your dental night guard that will lengthen its life and ensure proper protection.
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Instructions
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Rinse the night guard with cool water. After each use, simply run cool water over the night guard to rinse off any particles that may have accumulated with wear. Make sure to use cool water, as hot water may distort the actual form of the device, creating a looser fit than needed.
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Submerge the night guard in mouthwash. To better clean your night guard, submerge the device in a bowl of antiseptic mouthwash and then rinse under cool water.
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Brush out the night guard with toothpaste. If you really want to make sure the night guard is clean, you can use a soft bristle toothbrush and regular toothpaste to gently brush out the device. Again, rinse under cool water.
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Store your night guard in its protective case. Most night guards will come with their own protective case for easy storage between times of use. This will ensure that the night guard remains clean and undamaged. If your night guard did not come with its own case, simply pick one up at your local pharmacy. A retainer case also works well for storage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have braces, you may want to talk to your dentist before using a dental night guard. She may have a better option or product that suits teeth currently in braces.
Do not leave your dental night guard to soak in water or mouthwash throughout the day. This could affect the structure of the device.
