HOW LONG DO DENTAL NIGHT GUARD

LAST?
by Asmi234 on June 14, 2015 - Categories: Night Guards - Comments: 0 - Tags: how long
does a night guard last, how long will a dental night guard last, I keep chewing through my
night guard, my night guard broke, night guard durability

DENTAL NIGHT GUARDS FACTS: THEIR LONGEVITY AND HOW TO MAKE

THEM LAST

How long do dental night guards last?

If you have been diagnosed with bruxism by your dentist, he/she may have recommended a
night guard for you. Dental night guards are pretty expensive. With such a hefty price tag,
you may find yourself wondering how long a dental night guard will serve you. How long do
dental night guards last before you need to get a replacement?

Night guards have varying durability

This can be is attributed to a number of factors. One of these factors is the type of night
guard. Dental night guards come in different types, and each type is prescribed for a given
severity of bruxism. The three most common types of night guards are: the soft night guards,
dual laminate night guards and hard night guards. The average lifespan of night guards
typically given as 2-10 years (sometimes less for the soft type). To understand the reason for
this variation, let’s have a look at each type of night guard and its durability.

Soft Night Guards: Six months +

This type is commonly prescribed to patients with mild bruxism. These are patients who
don’t grind or clench their teeth on a nightly basis and when they do so, the grinding is not so
significant. The material used to make these night guards is usually soft and doesn’t offer as
much durability as the two types below though the soft night guards do handle the cases they
have been prescribed for pretty well. So, if you’re a light teeth grinder or jaw clencher, the
soft night guard should suffice.

Dual Laminate Dental Night Guard: 9 months to 5+ years

The next type of night guard is the dual laminate night guard. This version is prescribed for
moderate to severe bruxism. It is usually hard on the outside but soft on the inside and offers
more durability than the soft night guard.

Hard Dental Night Guard: 12 months to 5+ years

Last but not least is the hard dental night guard. Generally prescribed for moderate to severe
bruxism, this type is more durable than double laminate as long as it is 2mm thick or more.
This is due to the solid hard plastic used throughout the guard. Acrylic and acrylic-like
plastic is a more durable material and can be known to last for 5 years or more under regular
use.

Note: if you choose a thin style of any of the above mentioned guards you can expect to gain
comfort and a minimalistic feel but you will sacrifice durability.

Apart from the type of night guards, other factors also affect the durability of a night
guard

These are: the severity of your teeth grinding as an individual and the age of the individual.
The age of the individual is a viable factor since for younger patients such as toddlers, the
night guards need to be changed frequently to accommodate the growth of teeth and teeth
movement.

Despite the assured durability of a given type of night guard, there are certain practices that
can cause the night guard to wear out faster than expected. One of these practices is poor
night guard maintenance. A common mistake made by many people is washing their night
guards using hot water. Hot water is known to weaken the plastic making the night guard and
as a result, it loses shape and fails to fit well in the mouth, calling for a replacement. Eating
and drinking with your night guard on will also contribute to reduced durability. The food or
drink may discolor it and the food particles may accumulate on the mouth guard, providing a
breeding place for bacteria and viruses. The material will discolor, become brittle and may
warp or break.

Clean Your Night Guard To Ensure Longevity

It is everyone’s desire to prolong the life of his/her dental night guard. The surest way to do
this is through careful maintenance of your night guard. For most people, cleaning their night
guards is a commonly ignored matter. However, this is imperative. There are several ways of
cleaning your night guard. One quick way is cleaning it using cold water, a toothbrush and
toothpaste; just like you clean your own teeth. Keep in mind some toothpastes can be very
abrasive.

What’s the best way to clean my night guard?

An ideal solution is to purchase a natural cleanser such as Dr. Bronners Peppermint Soap.
You can cut this particular soap with water so it lasts and lasts. Get a soft toothbrush, place a
little peppermint soap on the brush and gently clean your guard. Remember to dry it
completely afterwards. It leaves a nice peppermint smell. It’s all organic and very effective
at keeping your guard fresh. Apart from this simple exercise; which should be done on a daily
basis, it is recommended that once in a week, you soak it in a mix of a mouth guard cleaner
and water for a few hours. This will remove plaque and bacteria in the night guard, and also
give it a nice smell. Makeshift mouth guard cleaners such as vinegar have been suggested by
some though they are not highly recommended as their odor will penetrate the plastic and last
for a longer time which might not be appealing. Once you have cleaned your night guard,
ensure you dry it thoroughly, keep it in a ventilated box, away from a heat source.

Dental night guards can serve you for a long time if you get the right type and maintain it the
right way. In return for the service you are giving it, it will protect your teeth and save you
from frighteningly costly dental repairs down the road.