Night guard home care

Night guard “bite splints” are designed to alleviate the pain and damage caused by clenching or grinding of the teeth. Jaw joint (TMJ) and facial muscle pain are common side effects of night-time teeth grinding (termed “bruxism”.) Bruxism also leads to tooth wear, chipped teeth, and collapse of the vertical dimension of the lower face.

After Dr. Aliisha has determined a night guard is the appropriate therapy for the patient, we will take custom impressions of your upper and lower teeth and the way your teeth contact when your mouth is closed. There are several different designs for occlusal guards, the most common being a “hard/soft” full arch guard that fits over the upper teeth.

At the delivery of the night guard in-office, the doctor will check to make sure the fit is exact and review with you how to maintain the guard at home.

  • Brush and floss your teeth before placing the clean nightguard in your mouth at bed time

  • Initially, most patients take a few nights to get accustomed to having the guard in their mouth. Keep with it, and in about a week it will feel routine and comfortable. If you have any issues, please contact our office for a follow up.

  • In the morning, clean your night guard. Use cool, clean water and soap. Do not use anything abrasive to clean. Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Do not soak in mouthwash (most contain alcohol.)

  • After cleaning, let the guard air dry (the container has holes to permit air flow. You do not want to store it in an air-tight container.

  • Wear the guard regularly. If you do not, your teeth may shift and the guard no longer fit.

  • If you did go a few nights without wearing and find the guard feels too tight to seat, try warming the guard in warm (not too hot!) water and then placing in your mouth.

  • Keep away from direct sunlight, or areas that may get hot (such as do not leave the nightguard in your car during the summer.)

  • Keep away from pets! Dogs love to chew and destroy nightguards and retainers.

  • If you like, you can use soaking crystals used for retainers (like Retainer Brite) to help keep clean

  • Bring your guard with you to your 6 month check-ups so we can check on the integrity of the guard.

  • How long the night guard lasts depends on the patient. Some patients require a new one every year, while others can go as long as 3-5 years before replacement.