{"id":234,"date":"2023-01-31T13:25:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T13:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgeorgesalem.com\/blog\/?p=234"},"modified":"2024-03-20T13:26:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T13:26:33","slug":"mouthguard-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drgeorgesalem.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/31\/mouthguard-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Mouthguard Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white\"><span lang=\"EN\" style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#5E5E5E;background:white;\nmso-highlight:white\">Let\u2019s talk about mouthguards and night guards\u2014two crucial appliances that protect your teeth and jaw.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>We could talk about how important a mouthguard is when you lead an active life. Mouthguards protect teeth, delicate mouth tissue, and jaws from accidents and impacts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or if you grind your teeth at night, waking up every morning with tooth or jaw pain, we can talk about how a night guard can be a quality-of-life-saver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we\u2019re not going to talk about any of these important topics today. Instead of looking at how your mouthguard protects <em>you<\/em>, today we\u2019re going to look at how you can protect your <em>mouthguard<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want your guard to last longer, work better, and stay (and smell) cleaner, some basic tips make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep your guard clean.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This can\u2019t be stressed enough. Without a good cleaning routine, your guard can become discolored, develop an unpleasant odor, and even cause illness. Not very appealing, right? Happily, keeping mouthguards and night guards clean isn\u2019t difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you wear your guard, whether during daytime activities or through the night, the same plaque that is present in your mouth makes itself at home in your appliance. And when your guard is in its case, that dark, moist environment makes it a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as you take your guard out, rinse it off. Brush with a soft toothbrush to remove all the plaque, saliva, or food debris that might be lingering in your appliance. (If you are on the playing field, in the park, or at some other inconvenient location, rinse it and brush as soon as you can.) Toothpaste can help get your guard its cleanest, but can be too abrasive for some appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve cleaned it, let your guard air dry in a clean spot for about 30 minutes. Air drying helps prevent bacterial growth. After your guard has dried, return it to its case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a week, you might need to give your guard a good soak in a mouthwash or other dental cleaning solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since cleaning instructions can be different depending on which type of guard you have, be sure to follow our instructions if you have a custom guard, or follow the manufacturer\u2019s cleaning instructions if you have a store guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep it safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When your guard isn\u2019t in your mouth, it should be in its case. Lying loose on the bathroom counter or tumbling around in your gym bag puts your guard at risk for breakage <em>and<\/em> bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And don\u2019t forget to clean your case thoroughly every few days and air dry it as well. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, and other unwelcome guests can collect in your case, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep it only as long as it\u2019s in good condition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can purchase mouthguards from sporting or drug stores, or the doctor can make you a mouthguard or night guard designed to fit your teeth perfectly. These appliances are made to be strong and durable, but they\u2019re not indestructible. Over time they can wear down or become damaged, especially if you treat them carelessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacteria can lurk in dents and cracks, and you can cut your mouth on rough, sharp, or broken edges. But if your guard isn\u2019t fitting properly, don\u2019t resort to self-help! Trying to repair, reshape, or trim your appliance yourself is not a good idea, because it might affect its fit and protective ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any sign that your guard isn\u2019t fitting properly or shows signs of wear and tear could mean it\u2019s time for a replacement. You can replace a store model, or ask our Braintree, Massachusetts team about repairing or replacing your custom guard. A mouthguard or night guard that doesn\u2019t fit, doesn\u2019t protect you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take care of your guard, and it will take care of you. The reward for the small amount of time and effort you put into caring for your mouthguard or night guard is a smile that will last you for a lifetime. That\u2019s a benefit we can talk about all day!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s talk about mouthguards and night guards\u2014two crucial appliances that protect your teeth and jaw.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mouthguard Protection - Dr. George Salem &amp; Associates Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/drgeorgesalem.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/31\/mouthguard-protection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mouthguard Protection - Dr. George Salem &amp; 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