What is a night guard?

A night guard is a plastic mouthpiece that is custom-fitted to your teeth. It’s designed to keep your top and bottom teeth from grinding and clenching together. The mouthpiece is worn while you sleep and can help correct and prevent jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage.

What are the benefits of a night guard?

- Protection against teeth grinding

- Reduces or eliminates jaw pain

- Reduces or eliminates headaches

- Minimizes tooth sensitivity

- Reduces snoring

- Helps prevent teeth from shifting

- Improves overall dental health

How to clean a night guard?

Most patients simply brush their night guard with a toothbrush and some toothpaste. Some patients like to soak their night guard in denture cleaning tablets every night.

Some patients like to use the denture cleaning tablets because they are easier and less messy than brushing their night guard with toothpaste.

Some patients also like to soak their night guard in denture cleaning tablets because they make the guard feel fresher.

How often should a night guard be cleaned?

A good rule of thumb is to have your night guard cleaned every three to four months or as needed. While it’s not necessary to clean a night guard every night before wearing it, cleaning it regularly can help ensure your mouth stays healthy.

How to tell if your night guard needs replacement?

Night guards are durable dental devices meant to protect the teeth, jaw, and muscles from clenching and grinding while sleeping. If worn properly and cleaned regularly, a night guard can last for years.

When should I get a night guard?

Night guards are designed to prevent clenching and grinding of teeth. Many patients use them when sleeping at night, and they can be helpful for patients that grind their teeth while sleeping. Grinding teeth can cause significant damage to teeth, and a night guard is often recommended by dentists to prevent this damage from occurring.

Night guards are most commonly used at night, but some patients use one during the day if they suffer from severe bruxism. A night guard is fitted over your teeth while you sleep, and it protects them from clenching and grinding damage.

Benefits of a night guard

You may benefit from having a night guard created if you clench or grind your teeth. A night guard can help alleviate the jaw pain and headaches associated with this habit.