How to Clean Your Night Guard Naturally

As more and more studies show the dangers of ingredients once thought safe, it’s understandable that you’re looking for natural cleaning solutions — especially for things that go in your mouth, like your night guard.

However, repetitive use of this oral appliance means bacteria breed at an astronomical rate. How can you ensure your gentle cleansing is strong enough to eliminate microorganism growth?

Natural cleaning methods have worked for various purposes for thousands of years, many of which can help keep your night guard fresh. We’ve scoured tips from the experts to bring you the best ways to clean your night guard naturally.

What Is The Best Way to Clean Your Night Guard?

You brush your teeth, replace your toothbrush, and avoid unnecessary germs. Now, you’re adding “clean night guard” to your oral hygiene to-do list.

This job is essential because if you don’t clean your oral appliance, the microorganisms in your mouth and environment can build up on it. Buildup means biofilms develop — the yucky, slimy substance that causes plaque and tartar. Ultimately, buildup leads to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral health infections. However, all those issues can be minimized if you regularly clean your night guard.

Proper care also extends the lifespan of your night guard. Without regular cleaning, the thermoplastic material (whether silicone, acrylic, or something else) degrades quickly. To make the most of your investment, take a few seconds a day to clean it.

Safe, Effective, and Natural Cleaning At Its Best

If you’re looking for a simple way to deep-clean your night guard to reduce bad breath-causing and oral health-damaging germs, our JS Dental Lab ultrasonic cleaner is the solution. With the press of a button, you’ll eliminate 99% of all oral bacteria in 5 minutes!

It’s ideal for everything from night guards, mouth guards, and retainers to dentures, clear aligners, and toothbrush heads. The best news is that you don’t need any chemicals; just add warm water, start the cycle, and enjoy a short break.

Buy the JS Dental Lab Ultrasonic Cleaner Here

Cleaning Your Night Guard With At-Home Products

The ultrasonic cleaner is the perfect monthly deep-cleaning device. However, if you’re looking for a quick and easy natural way to clean your night guard daily in under a minute, look around your home. You might already have everything you need!

Toothpaste And a Soft-Bristle Toothbrush

If your toothpaste is non-abrasive and you have a soft-bristled brush, that’s all you need!

Gently scrub the surfaces of your night guard with a circular motion, rinse off the toothpaste, and air-dry before returning your appliance to its container.

You can also use an alcohol-free mouthwash to get a pop of minty freshness. Toss it in a glass of liquid for a quick soak, followed by a cool water rinse.

Note: Non-abrasive toothpaste is a must to prevent scratching your night guard. If you aren’t positive yours fits the description, move on to one of the following natural methods.

Natural Soap (Castile Soap)

You can use regular, over-the-counter dish soap on oral appliances as long as it’s liquid and antibacterial. Castile soap is all-natural, making it the safest kind for cleaning the night guard.

Pour a pea-sized amount on a soft toothbrush, scrub gently to remove bacterial growth or food debris, rinse, and air dry.

White Vinegar

White vinegar contains acetic acid, which naturally dissolves mineral buildup like calcium and tartar. This makes it an excellent replacement for synthetic chemical disinfectants.

Soak your night guard in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar for 20 minutes, then remove and rinse thoroughly to eliminate the vinegar taste and smell. Air dry, store, and that’s it!

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. To keep your night guard from developing foul odors, mix a paste of equal parts water and baking soda, then use the mixture and a toothbrush to clean your night guard. Rinse, air dry, and store.

Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse

A common ingredient in teeth whitening products, hydrogen peroxide is safe for use (in low doses). Using a 3% peroxide solution, pour equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide into a glass. Toss in your night guard and let it soak for 15 minutes. Remove, rinse, and air dry thoroughly.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Cleaning Your Night Guard

Your night guard comes with its own special set of unwritten rules. Like a retainer after braces, you need to wear it regularly. This thin shield is the line of defense that protects your teeth, gums, and facial muscles from the teeth grinding and jaw clenching of bruxism.

This rule might be challenging at first as you get used to having something over your teeth, but a comfortable, custom-fit night guard makes it easier to adjust.

Now that you’re using the device nightly, here come the rules for cleaning:

• Rinse the night guard with warm water before you put it in your mouth. This reduces germs that have accumulated during the day.
• When you wake up, remove the oral appliance from your mouth and rinse again to wash off the bacteria. Have a designated spot for the guard to air dry before you put it back in its container.
• Clean the night guard daily with a simple rinse or a gentle scrub with a soft toothbrush.
• Weekly cleanings can be more vigorous. Since you’re cleaning yours naturally, you can use any of the above methods, but be sure to avoid using products that contain alcohol or bleach. These ingredients degrade the thermoplastic material and impact its structural integrity.
• Never put your night guard in the dishwasher or boil it. Extreme low and high temperatures are damaging to this device.
• Don’t store your night guard in the bathroom. The humidity from showering can warp the material or build moisture that attracts bacteria and may lead to mold.

One more important tip if you have pets or kids: Little ones and animals (dogs in particular) love playing with night guards. The plastic in hybrid and soft night guards makes them squishy and chewable, like a rubber toy.

But these devices can be choking hazards. Keep yours high and out of reach from curious hands and paws!

What to Watch For as You Clean Your Night Guard

Over time, night guards, like any frequently used device, will begin to show signs of wear — such as warping and discoloration. Proper care only goes so far when you’re grinding and clenching every night!

The more severe your grinding is, the faster your night guard will likely need replacing.

Other factors — including whether you bought an OTC mouth guard made of lower-quality material or a custom night guard from a professional laboratory like JS Dental Lab — can make or break your device's lifespan. Whether it’s Invisalign, a sports mouth guard, or a night guard, the better the material used to make it, the longer it should last.

To Clean or To Start Over?

However, all good things must eventually come to an end. Part of your cleaning routine should include watching for signs that it’s time to replace your night guard.

Cracks And Splits

Some signs that it’s time to replace your night guard are obvious. Deep cracks and splits that can’t be glued together with dental adhesive tell you that you shouldn’t be using that device.

Should you try anyway, you’ll notice that it doesn’t fit as comfortably and isn’t giving you the protection you need against grinding. In fact, it could cause more harm than good by damaging your soft tissue and creating uneven pressure when you grind. Start over with a replacement night guard.

Stinky Odors

Other signs aren’t quite so readily apparent, but they’re night guard red flags.

If your guard has a persistent odor that doesn’t go away with your natural cleaning methods, or it is so discolored that cleaning doesn’t fix it, there’s a bacterial issue under the surface that can lead to oral health infections.

It’s not worth taking a chance, so start over with a new night guard!

Loose or Poor Fit

When you first got your night guard (if it was custom-made), you likely noticed that you had to slide it over the arch of your teeth and push it into place. The fit was like a perfect pair of jeans — barely noticeable but doing its job.

Over time, night guards can loosen for various reasons, such as wear and tear and shifting teeth from age, pregnancy, and orthodontics. When your guard doesn’t fit like it did, it isn’t protecting you as well as it should.

You may notice increased jaw pain, headaches, and overall discomfort again. Worse, you could develop mouth sores where the guard is pushing into the soft tissue. Start over.

Why Do Teeth Shift With Age? (And What Can I Do About It?)

Conclusion

Keeping your night guard clean naturally can be a safe and effective way to make it last as long as possible. Between proper care, consistent wear, and regular dental care, you’re on track to a healthy mouth!

But your night guard’s protection is only as good as the material it’s made from. For a high-quality, custom-fit oral appliance — and to check out the ultrasonic machine to give your night guard a deeper clean — visit us at JS Dental Lab!