How to Care for Your Night Guard

Hey there, Dr. Ashish Patel here with Dentistry at East Piedmont. First of all, congratulations on having one of the most protective things that you can possibly do for your overall oral health: the dental night guard. These night guards are made with a thermoplastic material that actually gets pliable once you put it in hot water. So how do you take care of your night guard?

Step number one. When you're getting ready to brush your teeth, turn on the hot water and get it about as hot as you can possibly get it. Take your night guard and put it into the cup while you're brushing. When you get done brushing your teeth, the night guard will be nice and pliable. Move it around a bit, put it in your mouth, and go to bed.

When you wake up in the morning, take out your night guard. Use a little bit of warm water and a little bit of Dawn antibacterial soap. Scrub the night guard to keep it clean, then rinse it.

Then wrap a wet paper towel around it and store it in your case. You don't have to store it in water. Just a little bit of a damp cloth around your night guard will help protect it and keep it looking new as long as you own it.

Congratulations again. Remember: the first 14 days that you have your night guard are the most critical. Make sure you wear it every single night for 14 days straight. After 14 days, this night guard will become a part of you.

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to our office.