Tips for Adjusting to Your Night Guard
Posted on Aug 8, 2017 11:15am PDT
During your dental examination, your dentist may recommend a night guard
if he or she sees any signs that you are grinding your teeth. Although
night guards can be important for your oral health, adjusting to wearing
one isn’t always easy. Ask for advice on wearing a night guard at your
dental office in Lake Stevens, WA. These tips will also help.
Get a Custom Fit
Although you can buy night guards over the counter, you’ll find yours
much more comfortable if you have your dentist make you one with a custom
fit. At your dental office, your dentist can take a mold of your mouth
and craft a night guard that is specifically designed to fit you, so you
don’t have to deal with guards that are too big or too small or
that cut into the soft tissue of your mouth. Your dental office can also
demonstrate how to wear the night guard and give you tips on getting used
to it, so you can have a smoother transition to sleeping while wearing it.
Ease into It
If you find that your night guard is bothering you when you go to bed,
try wearing it for short periods of time during the day, so that you get
used to the feel of it and breathing while it’s in your mouth. When
you get ready for bed, put your night guard in last, right before you’re
ready to fall asleep. If you’re ready for sleep when you put in
your night guard, you’re less likely to let it keep you awake.
Keep It Clean
Make cleaning your night guard part of your dental care routine, just like
brushing and flossing. Failing to do so will allow your guard to become
covered in bacteria, which will cause it to have an odor that makes it
unappealing to put in your mouth. Some night guards can even grow mold
when not cleaned regularly. Ask your dentist for advice on the best way
to care for your guard.