How to Clean a Night Guard

Night time teeth grinding can seriously damage a person’s enamel and cause them a lot of jaw pain. We at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs are pleased to see patients with bruxism using night guards to protect themselves, but night guards need to be cleaned properly. Otherwise, they could become a source of halitosis and covered in bacterial build-up.

In the morning, a wearer should brush the night guard after removing it. As with anything dental-related, only a soft-bristled toothbrush should be used. Although soaking a night guard in soap and water or a cleaning solution will eliminate some bacteria, most manufacturers still recommend daily brushings. But fluoridated toothpaste is unnecessary and should be avoided; the minerals in it could scratch the night guard’s plastic, giving bacteria a hiding place.

While dentures should be kept wet at all times, night guards need to be patted dry and put in a clean, ventilated case. (Washing the case every day is also a good idea.) The case should not be left anywhere hot enough to put the night guard at risk for warping, and the wearer should not attempt to adjust it themselves. It is expected that the wearer’s teeth will migrate slightly, but a night guard can usually be refitted professionally.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Children with Bad Breath

Southern Cross Dental offers comprehensive care for patients of all ages, providing children suffering from bad breath with a place where they can go for help. Our dedicated hygienists work to educate young patients on oral hygiene, which is generally all that is necessary to reverse halitosis, but children do have some specific needs.

Bad smells most often come from bacteria hiding in creviced soft tissue where food debris accumulates. This is why people are instructed to brush their tongues as well as their teeth, but the tonsils are another breeding zone for bacteria which are much harder to reach. Bacteria in the back of the throat also feed on nasal drip, which results from sinus infections, which children get more frequently than adults. An object caught in a child’s nose will also cause nasal drip.

Dry mouth also contributes to halitosis. ADHD and anxiety medications commonly cause bad breath as a side effect, and active children sometimes simply do not remember to stay hydrated. Some solutions to this are sugar-free gum and throat moisturizers. It is also possible that a child’s bad breath is being caused by diabetes or a previously unknown allergy, which is why parents should treat it as a serious concern.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit SouthernCrossFamilyDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.