Your custom night guard represents and investment in preventing damage to your teeth and jaw caused by grinding your teeth at night. While your night guard is designed to be very durable, routine care and maintenance can extend its lifespan, thus saving you the expense of buying a new unit.
You should rinse your night guard in cold water, each morning. This will helps remove bacteria and plaque that might have developed over night. Then use a clean paper towel dry it thoroughly before storing it in the provided case.
Brushing the night guard occasionally with a soft bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste can help refresh the unit and remove any residual plaque. It’s also a good idea to wash the case with warm soapy water once a week will help to kill any bacteria that might transfer from the night guard.
Of course, your night guard might suffer a little wear and tear over the long course of time. This is only natural given how much strain it is taking from your teeth and jaw muscles. If something significant happens, you should call your dentist to arrange for a new one. You could also bring it with you to your routine dental cleaning so your dentist can inspect it.
If you have questions about getting a custom night guard or how to maintain your current one, please give us a call at 440-884-9898 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you!