Do you know how to properly clean a night guard? Your answer could be the difference between being exposed to gum disease and not. Your night guard acts as a dental gum shield but not knowing how to clean your night guard can expose your gums to disease causing bacteria. Protect your night time guard and protect your gums.
According to the American Dental Association, ‘bruxism’, or what’s more commonly known as teeth grinding and clenching, can affect up to 15 per cent of adults. While it may seem like an innocuous habit, teeth grinding can cause teeth chipping and cracking, strained jaw muscles and grind down your pearly whites over time. It’s not uncommon for someone who suffers from bruxism to wake up in pain or discomfort and notice the appearance of their teeth and jaw shape changing – without even knowing why.
If this sounds like you, you probably know exactly what we’re talking about, and you’re most likely the owner of a night guard.
Night guards are removable dental devices that are usually worn during sleep. They’re either purchased over the counter from a pharmacy or custom-made from a dentist and work to shield the top and bottom teeth from contact.
Night guards aren’t cheap either – a custom-made guard may set you back anywhere between AU $800 and $1000, not including dentist consultations, making it a (very) expensive habit. So, it’s in your best interests to keep your night guard in pristine condition to prolong its life and avoid follow-up dental appointments.
Just as we brush our teeth daily, our night guards need the same maintenance and care. However, we can safely bet that you probably didn’t receive any cleaning advice or a cleaning kit when you purchased your thousand-dollar device. But, did you know that night guards are exposed to the same bacteria that you brush away on your teeth every morning and night? And what’s more, when your night guard isn’t cleaned, that bacteria gets trapped and then festers over time, leading to bacteria exposure that may cause infections and gum disease.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque along the teeth and near the gums. As this plaque is riddled with bacteria, the immune system begins to fight the bacteria with an inflammatory response, leaving the gums around the tooth swollen and painful.
Gum disease has the ability to affect the bone that supports and surrounds the teeth and can worsen over time:
- The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis. During this stage, people may experience some bleeding, inflammation and pain during brushing, but generally, this damage can be improved.
- The second stage is periodontitis. In this stage, the supporting bone structures that hold the teeth in place cannot be fixed, and people may experience constant bad breath, excessive blood and pus from the gums.
- The final stage is advanced periodontitis. In this stage, the structure of gums and teeth are destroyed, meaning the shape of teeth have changed, gums have receded and separated, and teeth may need to be removed.
How do you clean a night guard?
A common misconception amongst night guard wearers is that cleaning your night guard with a toothbrush and toothpaste, or even just water, is sufficient. However, washing or rinsing your night guard like this can be detrimental to your device over time.
Using alcoholic or non-alcoholic mouthwash, a toothbrush or toothpaste, or leaving your device in a murky glass of water, will erode the surface of your night guard over time and actually increase surface bacteria. On top of that, abrasive ingredients in toothpaste can cause tiny divots in the night guard surface. These divots then act as a breeding ground, latching onto bacteria, fungi and microbes, potentially resulting in oral diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
So how do you help prevent gum disease?
The key to a healthy mouth is a healthy cleaning routine… and we’re not just talking about brushing and flossing your teeth. You need to take a holistic approach – night guard included. Cleaning your night guards properly and thoroughly ensures that your dental hygiene routine is tip-top. This means fewer trips to the dentist (and doctor), and more money in your pocket from prolonged night guard use.
Dr Mark’s HyGenie is a scientifically proven, all-in-one solution to properly clean, store and protect your night guard. Paired with Dr Mark’s DentalFresh pH balanced, paraben and alcohol-free formulation, the process takes less than one minute for the ultimate hygienic clean.
Avoiding nasty oral diseases doesn’t have to be as hard as you think. Dr Mark’s HyGenie is backed by more than 30 years of dental experience, is recommended by 10 out of 10 dentists and is a simple and easy solution to a common problem.
