How To Clean Our Kids Night Guards?
If your child wakes up with painful jaws or headaches a couple of nights, it could be they are suffering from bruxism.
Bruxism refers to clenching and grinding one’s teeth. It is a common habit that can negatively affect the teeth, jaw, and head. It mostly affects people experiencing stress or anxiety. Since it is a subconscious response, most people are unaware that they clench or grind their teeth while sleeping.
Your pediatric dentist in Columbia may recommend a night guard to reduce the impact of grinding and clenching on the teeth.
What Are Night Guards?
A night guard protects the teeth from damage during sleep. These dental appliances are made of gentle material on the teeth, and they cover the upper teeth. The purpose of night guards is to keep your upper jaw from moving too far back and forth and causing damage to your tooth enamel, leading to cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Why Is It Important to Keep the Night Guards Clean?
After getting night guards in Columbia, SC, keeping them clean to enhance their lifespan and prevent decay is crucial.
Your kid’s night guard is made of plastic and silicone, which are porous materials that can trap bacteria. This means that they can cause bad breath and other serious dental problems.
If you don’t clean your child’s mouthguard regularly, the bacteria that builds up on it will cause an odor and tooth decay. The best way to prevent these issues is by thoroughly cleaning your child’s mouthguard daily.
Keeping your kid’s night guards clean helps them last longer, costs you less if they need to be replaced, and keeps the fit of their mouthguard more accurate.
How Can You Clean the Night Guards?
Dr. Robert Ellis will give you instructions on caring for the night guards. But, there are a few ways you can maintain its conditions.
- Clean the night guard with a soft-bristled brush under lukewarm water using a cleanser that does not contain bleach.
- Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth or towel. Place back in the container in which it came and store at room temperature out of direct sunlight.
- Never use toothpaste on your mouthguard. Most kinds of toothpaste are too abrasive and can damage the mouthguard. It may also cause damage to the teeth, making them appear whiter than they are and uncomfortable for you to eat with.
- Never place the mouthguard in hot water, as it will warp it and make it useless. Hot water also causes bad smells and bacteria to grow and causes mouth guards to wear out quickly.
Benefits of Cleaning the Night Guards
Cleaning your child’s night guard offers great benefits like:
- Cheaper replacement costs
Keeping the night guards clean will reduce bacteria build-up, which can cause the plastic to weaken over time. When a damaged mouthguard is not cleaned or maintained properly, it can lead to additional wear and tear on your child’s teeth and gums and expensive replacement costs.
- Better fit
If a mouthguard is not properly cleaned or maintained, there is an increased risk of irritation or infection inside the mouth, which could cause swelling that affects how well the guard fits in the mouth.
- Better oral health
The fewer bacteria that build upon your child’s mouthguard means they’re less likely to get sick from germs!
Having fewer germs left over after each use means there’s less chance for infections like colds/flu viruses being passed along through sharing utensils – keeping everyone healthy while protecting yourself against expensive doctor bills too!
How Long Do the Night Guards Last?
The duration of night guard use depends on how often you grind your teeth and how long your dentist recommends you wear it. You should consult your Columbia pediatric dentist for more information on this topic.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Drs. Ellis, Green, and Jenkins for more information about night guards and what you can expect when using them.