Learning Guide For First-Time Night Guard Users

Have you finally decided to invest in a custom night guard but aren’t sure how to go about choosing and using one? Don’t worry; we’ve got you!

We’ve put together this learning guide for first-time users to ensure you have the best experience while incorporating night guards into your life. Let us walk you through it all!

How To Choose The Perfect Night Guard

When it comes to choosing a dental guard, the choices are endless. However, choosing the right dental guard is essential for an effective and positive experience.

Here are some factors to consider:

  • Do you experience daytime bruxism or just sleep bruxism?
  • Think about your usage. Do you also plan to use your mouthguard during the day or just at night?
  • Consider the fit and the comfort level—custom-made dental guards are the ideal choice.
  • Is the night guard easy to clean and maintain? If it’s low-quality material, you’d have to replace it too soon.
  • Consider the price. However, keep in mind that an OTC nightguard bought at a department store may be cheaper, but it won’t be as comfortable or effective.

Answering these questions will help you choose the perfect dental guard for yourself. To streamline the decision-making process further, take our Quiz!

How To Use A Night Guard

Getting used to a night guard can take a while, especially when you’re trying to sleep with it. However, we have a few tips to make sure you use it correctly and comfortably.

  • Wear your mouthguard at least 30 minutes before you sleep; give your mouth time to adjust to it before you can fall asleep.
  • Consider wearing it throughout the day for shorter periods to get used to how it feels.
  • Make sure the mouthguard fits properly. If you choose a custom dental guard, this wouldn’t be a problem.
  • Place the dental guard properly in your mouth.
  • Make sure the night guard is clean; if it’s unclean, it will feel uncomfortable.
  • If you typically fall asleep fast, consider wearing the night guard just before bed to avoid any discomfort.

How To Clean And Maintain Your Night Guard

One of the most important parts of owning and using a night guard is cleaning and maintaining it. Since you have to place it in your mouth every day, it’s incredibly important to ensure it doesn’t become a hub for germs and bacteria.

Here’s how you can keep your mouth guard clean and germ-free.

  • Always rinse your night guard with warm water once you take it out of your mouth.
  • Lightly brush the night guard with a toothbrush. Do not use any toothpaste.
  • Let your night guard dry completely before you store it.
  • Always store the night guard in a closed case.
  • Deep clean the night guard once a month using non-abrasive denture cleansers.
  • Remember to rinse and clean the case as well.
  • To make a night guard last, choosing the right one is important. A soft daytime guard will not last very long if you're a heavy teeth grinder.

When And How To Replace A Night Guard

Many night guards are designed to last about 5 years; however, depending on the usage and teeth-grinding intensity, a night guard may wear faster within a year. Check for these signs to know for sure if it’s time to replace your night guard:

  • It doesn’t fit as snugly as it used to.
  • There are visible tears and cracks in the night guard.
  • The night guard is turning a different color.
  • You have mouth sores more often than ever.
  • Your headaches and other bruxism symptoms are back.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to order a new night guard!

Clear Comfort

Our process is as simple as 1-2-3! Once you place your order, either on our website or over the phone, we’ll have your custom dental impression kit with easy-to-follow instructions shipped directly to your home. You can take your very own teeth impressions in as little as 5 minutes!

Products View all

Quick view
mouthguard sitting on a yellow case
person putting the soft mouthguard into their mouth
The Soft Night Guard - For Light Teeth Grinding/Clenching
$139.00
Quick view
mouthguard sitting on a dark purple case
woman posing next to a night guard case
The Soft Durable Night Guard - For Heavy Teeth Grinding/Clenching
$149.00
Quick view
ultra-thin mouthguard sitting on a teal case
man putting an ultra-thin night guard into his mouth
The Ultra-Thin Guard - For Daytime Grinding/Clenching
$149.00
Quick view
hard night guard sitting on top of a pink case
woman putting the hard mouthguard into her mouth
The Hard Night Guard - For Moderate Grinding/Clenching
$159.00
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6 products

Night Guards

Your kit will also include a prepaid mailer that you’ll use to return your teeth impressions to our dental lab. Once we’ve received your impressions, we’ll use them to make a custom night guard designed to fit your teeth perfectly. We then ship your custom-made dental night guard back to you in a convenient carrying case. It’s that simple! We make the same custom night guards that you would get by going through your dentist, but for a fraction of the cost. In fact, many dentists use dental labs just like ours to have their clients’ dental guards made. Please let us know if you have any questions by contacting us.

Impression Instructions

Instructions for taking the impressions of your teeth:

STEP 1:

Inside your impression kit, you’ll find 1 set of impression putty mix and your upper or lower dental impression tray. Take the putty out of each container and mix the base impression putty and the catalyst together until you’ve achieved a uniform color. The fastest and easiest mixing action is the bend/fold and knead method. This process should take no more than 45 seconds. Please note that the material will begin to harden if combined for more than 1 minute, so we advise setting a timer.

STEP 2:

After you’ve mixed the two putties and achieved a uniform color, form the putty into the shape of a log and place it into your impression tray. As we only need to register the shape and form of your teeth, avoid leaving any excess putty on the outer sections or middle. (Please refer to the photo instruction provided in your kit).

STEP 3:

Immediately after inserting the putty into the tray, open your mouth wide. Avoid touching your teeth and insert the tray into your mouth. Once the tray is in the center of your mouth, push it over your teeth with equal force on either side to ensure an accurate impression. Make sure you capture a deep tooth impression past your gum line. Make sure that you hold the tray stable for 3 minutes, avoiding even the slightest movement until the putty has set and feels firm to the touch.

STEP 4:

Once the putty has set, remove the impression tray from your mouth using a firm, vertical releasing pull. Rinse the tray under cold water to ensure the set. Do not remove the impression from the tray. Please place the impression tray along with everything else that was in the package into the provided bubble packet and mail them to us using the prepaid post label. This process should take no more than 5 minutes.

NOTE:
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO READ AND FILL IN THE INCLUDED FORM CAREFULLY AND SEND IT BACK TO US ALONG WITH YOUR IMPRESSION.