People wear night guards for several reasons. The effective dental appliance protects the wearer’s teeth, jaw, and mouth against grinding. Since it’s a tool that spends time in your mouth, it requires proper care and cleaning.
Here is a guide on how to properly care for your new night guard.
1. Clean In The Morning
When you wake up in the morning and go through your morning grooming routine, clean the mouth guard too. At least give it a solid rinsing.
Everything that hangs out in your mouth attaches itself to the dental device. This includes bacteria, acid, and saliva. The reason why everyone must brush their teeth is to get rid of bacteria and acid. Thus, you need to remove them from the night guard too.
In the morning, ensure that you clean the device daily.
2. Use The Right Cleaning Methods
Industry professionals recommend rinsing the guard after every use. Clean it with a toothbrush and toothpaste daily.
To clean it properly, you can also use baking soda.
Many people know that boiling water kills bacteria. In addition, boiling items in the water gets rid of their bacteria too.
A question that often comes up is whether or not an individual can boil their guard to clean it. The answer is it depends. If you want to boil the guard, JS Dental Lab provides solid guidance.
3. Use The Right Cleaning Tools
Custom mouth guards prevent individuals from grinding their teeth while asleep. The material is tough enough to withstand the friction and force caused by the grinding motion. However, there is no reason to poke the bear.
When it comes to plastic, all it takes is one tear to cause the item to become unusable.
A toothbrush is the best tool to clean the device. However, take it easy. Use a soft-bristled brush and avoid anything that can puncture the night guard.
4. Allow It To Dry
After rinsing and cleaning the guard, ensure that it dries completely. Sitting water becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Since bacteria attach themselves from your mouth to the guard, moisture multiples the amount.
Place the guard in a position that allows it to dry completely. Also, place it in a safe place such as its case.
5. Keep The Case In Good Condition
When your guard is not in your mouth, keep it in its case. Some cases include ventilation. This makes the case an even better place to store the device.
Therefore, keep the case in good condition too. If you travel, keep the case with your carry-on luggage. If you only use the device at home, keep the case in your bathroom, nightstand, or other safe places.
6. Store The Night Guard In Its Case
Sometimes the temptation to place the guard on a surface and leave it there will present itself. You might feel tempted to place it in your purse or bad without protection too.
To properly care for your dental device, store it in its case when not in use.
It allows the guard to keep its shape and other bacteria don’t attach to it. The case serves an important purpose.
7. Deep Clean The Night Guard
Rinsing after every use and cleaning daily keeps the dental device in good shape. Like anything else, it’s going to require a deep cleaning after a few weeks.
Custom guards fit your mouth perfectly. They capture the position of your teeth. They take into account the alignment of every tooth. Thus, if there is slight overlap or crookedness, the guard reflects it.
Dental professionals recommend braces to individuals for oral hygiene reasons. Significant overlaps make it difficult to brush in between every tooth. On a guard, the overlap creates a crevice.
The crevices require more careful attention when cleaning. Over time, they develop build-up from bacteria, acid, and your preferred cleaning substance.
When you notice noticeable build-up on the dental tool, it’s time for deep cleaning.
Conclusion
A custom night guard is an investment. Plus, it’s a helpful tool that protects your teeth, jaw, and mouth. If you properly care for it, the tool is going to last longer. It makes sense to have a spare guard available to you. However, you can avoid replacing them often.
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