All dental night guards should come with a storage case, but properly storing it so that bacteria does not spread requires a few more steps.
How to store night guard properly
You need to make sure that both the night guard and the night guard case are as clean as possible. If you clean only your night guard but neglect your case, then your case will be a haven for bacteria and will contaminate your mouth guard again. You can clean your night guard case the same way you clean your night guard.
First, rinse your night guard and case with water. Next, brush both products with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Once a week, you should do a deep clean of your night guard and case. Fill up a container with water until both products are submerged. Put in 2 tsp of baking soda and let soak for 15 minutes. You may also soak it in in a denture cleaner tablet or powder solution, however some claim that the persulfates found inside can be harmful to your oral microbiome. You can also use soak it in mouthwash. Following these steps will also reduce the chances of night guard discoloration, which is exacerbated by bacteria growth.
It is imperative that you always store your night guard in a dry location. A moist or humid environment will allow bacteria to thrive. You must always let your night guard air dry before you store it in its case, which should also be completely dry. If you store your night guard in your washroom, make sure it is well ventilated otherwise the humidity can promote bacteria growth.
Conclusion
People often focus on cleaning their night guard but forget about cleaning the case. The case itself can be a haven for bacteria unless you clean it regularly as well. When cleaning your night guard, also clean your case using the same methods. Make sure both the guard and the case are completely dry after cleaning. You should also store the night guard in a dry environment.
Knowing how to store night guard when you aren’t wearing it will prevent spreading bacteria that can be harmful to your teeth.
Photo Credit: Linkhiei [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
