How Long Do Dental Night Guards Last?

April 24, 2021 · Ashely Notarmaso

How long do dental night guards last?

Night Guard Longevity and How To Make Them Last Longer

If you have been diagnosed with bruxism by your dentist, they may have recommended a night guard for you. Custom night guards can be 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?

Depending on the thickness and material used, night guards vary in longevity

This can be is attributed to a number of factors such as:

• Type of night guard. Dental night guards come in different types. The three most common types of night guards are: soft, hard, and dual laminated (also called hybrid)
• Thickness of guard. The thicker the guard, the more durable it will be.
• Quality of the plastic Avoid OTC or mass produced night guards sold at drug stores. The plastic is not high quality and will not last as long as a custom night guard

The average lifespan of night guards typically given as 1-10 years (sometimes less – for the soft type). To understand the reason for this wide span of time, let’s have a look at each type of night guard and its durability.

Soft Night Guards: 6+ 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 other types of night guards, although these soft guards do protect the teeth well against the damages that occur from teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

If you’re a light teeth grinder or jaw clencher, the soft night guard may be a great option for you.

Dual Laminate (hybrid) Night Guard: 1 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 hard on the outside but soft on the inside, and offers more durability than the soft night guard. Again, the longevity of this night guard depends greatly on individual grinding habits.

Hard Dental Night Guard: 1 to 5+ years

Last but not least, let’s take a look at the hard dental night guard. Generally prescribed for moderate to severe bruxism, this type is more durable than the dual 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 minimalist feel, but you longevity may be sacrificed depending on grinding habits.

Apart from the thickness of night guards, other factors also affect durability

These are: the severity of your teeth grinding and your age. The age of the individual is a viable factor, since, for younger patients such as children, 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.

Avoid very hot water

A common mistake, made by many people, is washing night guards using hot water.

Hot water is known to weaken the plastic, and as a result, the night guard loses shape and fails to fit well in the mouth. This can lead to a quicker need for replacements.

Do not eat or drink while wearing your night guard

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 their dental night guard.

The surest way to do this is through careful maintenance of your night guard. Cleaning night guards is a commonly ignored matter when it should be imperative.

There are several ways of cleaning your custom 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 though that 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. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap.

You can cut this particular soap with water so it lasts longer.

Using a soft toothbrush, place a tiny dollop of the 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 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 can penetrate the plastic.

Once you have cleaned your night guard, ensure you dry it thoroughly and keep it in a ventilated box, away from any 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 costly dental repairs down the road.