Night guards are an important part of taking care of your oral health. Learn how to properly clean and care for them by following the tips below.
How to clean a night guard
Cleaning your night guard correctly is an important part of its care. Follow the four tips below to keep your night guard clean and working properly:
- Wash your hands before putting in or taking out your guard. You don’t want to transfer any germs into your mouth.
- Always clean your night guard with a toothbrush and toothpaste whenever you take it out in the morning. This will help remove saliva and any bacteria or plaque that may have been growing in your mouth overnight.
Note: Don’t use hot water to clean your guard, as the heat could deform or melt it, rendering your night guard useless.
- Store your night guard in a cool, dry place, such as a case, to eliminate the possibility of further bacterial growth throughout the day. You don’t want it getting dirty when it isn’t in your mouth!
Note: Regularly give the container a good cleaning with soap or put it through a spin in the dishwasher! You don’t want a clean guard going into a wet, dirty case.
- Soak your night guard in denture cleaner once a week to ensure a fresh feel and taste.
Note: Avoid using alcohol-based products like mouthwash as they can stain or ruin your night guard.
Night guards are important for people who grind their teeth at night and keeping them clean is an important step to keeping them working as they should. You don’t want to cause any damage to your teeth overnight by letting plaque and bacteria build up.
Now that you know how to clean a night guard, check out these other helpful oral health tips: