7 Ways To Clean Mouth Night Guard The Right Way

If you are trying to understand how to clean your mouth night guard correctly, then you are in the right place. Here at Hello Ortho, we understand that many of you are investing in a high-quality night guard, but you are also unaware of how you can extend the life of your night guard by keeping it clean.

A night guard does a lot of heavy lifting for you, from keeping your teeth safe from grinding and clenching. However, as a night guard stays in your mouth for long periods of time, it also starts accumulating a lot of bacteria, plaque, and even calcium deposits, which can cause you a lot of harm if you are not keeping your night guard clean.

Why Cleaning Your Night Guard Matters

Your night guard is constantly exposed to saliva, bacteria, and food debris. Your night guard may become a haven for bacteria when it isn’t kept clean. It may lead to several issues, such as:

• Unpleasant odor and taste
• Cavities and gum irritations
• Bacterial buildup, which could lead to infections
• Discoloration and degradation of your night guard material

Decreased effectiveness, which could be caused by warping or degradation of your night guard

Properly maintaining your night guard is not only for hygienic purposes, but it also has a direct effect on your oral health and the overall effectiveness of your night guard.

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Your Daily Cleaning Routine 

You need to do this consistently.

1. Rinse Immediately After Use

As soon as you take off your night guard in the morning, rinse it under cool or lukewarm water. This will prevent saliva and debris from drying on the night guard.

Avoid using hot water. Although it is lukewarm, hot water can change the shape of your night guard.

2. Gently Brush It

You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your night guard daily.

There are two options for safely cleaning your night guard:

• Mild fragrance-free soap
• Non-abrasive toothpaste

You should be careful when using toothpaste. Some toothpastes may have a whitening agent and may scratch the night guard, where bacteria can hide.

3. Let It Air Dry Completely

After you have cleaned your night guard, you should let it air dry completely.

You should not:

• Use a hairdryer
• Put it under heat.
• Keep it in a damp place.

Moisture in a case can cause bacteria to grow faster than anything else.

Deep Cleaning

Although daily cleaning ensures everything is fine, weekly, you need to clean your night guard thoroughly.

Here are the best methods for a safe and effective deep cleaning for your night guard:

4. Vinegar Soak

Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water and soak your night guard for 15 to 30 minutes..

5. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

A solution consisting of equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water must be prepared. The soaking time is no more than 30 minutes after which it is necessary to rinse.

This is very helpful for stain removal and bacterial elimination.

6. Cleaning Tablets

The use of cleaning tabs to clean teeth is a wonderful idea as well. These tablets are specially produced to clean dentures, so there is no doubt regarding their performance. All that you need to do is dissolve one of the tablets in water and then soak your night guard.

7. Mouthwash 

An alcohol-free mouthwash is another better solution you can try. However, don’t use too much as this might influence the material.

What You Should Never Do

This is where the majority of people go wrong.

What you should never use on your night guard includes:

• Hot water
• Boiling water
• Bleach and other harsh chemicals
• Alcohol-based cleaning agents
• Dishwasher

You should never chew on your night guard. This may seem strange to you, but this is one of the most common things people do to their night guard. This can greatly affect the lifespan of your night guard.

When It’s Time to Replace Your Night Guard

A night guard is not meant to last forever. Note the following:

• Cracks, tears, and other forms of damage
• Warped and no longer fit comfortably.
• Has an odor even after cleaning
• Has discolorations that cannot be removed
• Increases discomfort

A night guard will have an estimated lifetime ranging from 1 to 5 years. Nonetheless, for individuals with grinding habits, their night guards will have to be replaced often.

A Quick Word From Hello Ortho

We say this to all of our patients: the night guard is only as good as the care you put into it.

Taking the time to clean your night guard every day can save you some serious problems, replacements, and pain later on.

If you have any questions about the care of your night guard, or if it feels off somehow, it might be worth getting it checked out. Small problems have a way of turning into big problems if ignored.

And if you need to replace your night guard or are looking to get one that is comfortable and fits well, we are here to help you get it right the first time.