Do you grind your teeth at night? Do you wear a night guard? What is a night guard? Night guards help protect your teeth against night time teeth grinding and can also help with snoring. They can be purchased at your local drugstore or grocery store for $12-$45.
Even though night guards are designed to help your teeth, they can cause bad breath if you do not clean them properly. How does a night guard get dirty? Well, your mouth is a pretty dirty place and bacteria can grow on your night guard if you do not clean it regularly. How do you clean a night guard? We will give you some tips on how to clean your night guard so your mouth and guard can stay fresh and clean.
Toothpaste and Toothbrush
You can keep your night guard fresh and clean by simply using your toothbrush and some toothpaste. You don’t need a whole lot of toothpaste to clean your guard, just a dime size amount will work. Work the toothpaste into all the crevasses using a circular motion. It is ok to use whitening toothpaste but only use a dime size and make sure to rinse the toothpaste off thoroughly. Once you are done brushing and rinsing your night guard you can either store it in its original container or you can wear it.
Peroxide Soda
To use this tip it is very important to follow all the steps so you don’t damage your night guard. Place your night guard into its original container and pour peroxide over your guard until it is just over the top of your guard. Leave your guard in the peroxide soak for about forty five minutes. After you take your night guard out of the peroxide soak, make sure to rinse your guard thoroughly. Inspect your night guard after you rinse it. If you see any food or dirt on your guard you can gently brush your guard with a soft bristle brush. Now that your night guard is clean your mouth will be nice and fresh.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is not just for baking but you can also clean a number of things with it, including your night guard. Simply sprinkle some baking soda onto your night guard and with your toothbrush and a little water, brush the baking soda into your night guard using a circular motion. Be sure not to add too much water to the baking soda. You only want to add enough water to the baking soda so that it is like a paste. Leave the baking soda on the night guard for about ten minutes and rinse thoroughly. Your night guard should be clean, fresh and ready to wear.
Your mouth is a pretty dirty place and keeping it clean is very important. Proper cleaning of your night guard can help keep your mouth clean and fresh. Using these few simple tips on how to clean your night guard can save you money on gum, mints and embarrassment.