Getting a teeth grinding mouthguard that you can wear while you sleep is a great investment! They offer significant benefits for your oral and overall wellbeing and allow you to rest easier. Finding relief from bruxism is a difficult task, but if you have with your custom-crafted dental mouthguard, you’ll want to do everything possible to make sure you continue reaping those benefits. Read on for a few tips to help you get the most out of your new mouthguard.
Don’t Forget to Put it In Before Going to Bed
If you have a habit of nodding off on the couch each night around the same time after work, you may forget to put your nightguard in your mouth, especially if you store it in your nightstand. This can leave you susceptible to all of the terrible effects of bruxism, like enamel erosion and sore jaw joints.
To combat this issue, try setting a reminder on your phone around the time you usually fall asleep to go get your mouthguard from the bedroom. You can also store the mouthguard in its protective case in your living room instead, that way it’s nearby whenever you begin nodding off, and all you have to do is reach over and put it in.
Take Good Care of Your Mouthguard
There’s not a lot of maintenance involved in owning a bruxism nightguard, but you’ll want to be sure to take good care of it so it lasts. Here are a few ways to ensure that it will continue protecting your pearly whites for years to come:
- Rinse your mouthguard with cold water or mouthwash after every use.
- Never use hot water while cleaning your mouthguard.
- Always store your mouthguard in a hard, protective case that is able to circulate air.
- Wash the nightguard storage case every two to three days.
- Allow your nightguard to completely dry on a clean surface before storing it.
If you have any questions or concerns about taking care of your bruxism nightguard, you can always reach out and ask your dentist!
Bring Your Mouthguard to Be Regularly Examined By Your Dentist
It’s always a good idea to bring your mouthguard to each of your semi-annual checkups and cleanings with your dentist so they can inspect it and make sure that it still fits properly. Some dentists are even able to professionally sanitize your nightguard for you so you can leave their office with a clean smile and a fresh, mildew-free mouthguard!
While this process may sound like a lot to do, once you get in the habit of wearing and cleaning your mouthguard, you’ll be able to reap countless benefits, including falling asleep with the peace of mind that your teeth are safe.
About the Author
Dr. Adelina Duka is dedicated to making sure that her patients’ smiles stay healthy and intact. One of the ways she’s able to do this is by using the latest techniques and technology in the dental world to protect smiles, such as crafting high-quality, durable nightguards for bruxism and offering pain-relieving TMJ therapy. She has served as a Research Instructor in Medicine in Boston University’s Research Department and is an active member of several professional organizations, such as the American Dental Association. For questions or to schedule an appointment to address jaw aches, facial pain, or teeth grinding, visit Framingham Family Dental Care’s website or call 508-626-2402.