Caring for Your Night Guard or Sleep Apnea Appliance

Hard occlusal night guards and custom sleep apnea appliances (mandibular advancement devices) are both precision-made acrylic appliances worn while you sleep — and they share the same core care routine. Appliance-specific guidance for each follows below.

Every morning

• Rinse the appliance under cool, clear water as soon as you take it out.
• Brush it gently with a soft toothbrush — a drop of mild, clear soap is fine. Do not use toothpaste; it is abrasive and scratches the surface.
• Shake off the water and let it air dry completely before it goes into its case. Sealing a wet appliance in a closed case is how odor and bacteria take hold.
• Store it dry, at room temperature, in a clean ventilated case, out of direct sunlight and away from pets — dogs chew up more night guards than anything else.

Every night

• Brush and floss your teeth first, then rinse the appliance with clean water before inserting it.
• If you use mouthwash, rinse your mouth with water afterward before inserting the appliance — residual mouthwash can degrade and discolor the material.

Weekly deep clean

• Once or twice a week, clean with a peroxide-based appliance cleaner (about 3.8% peroxide or less), following the directions on the box.
• Do not soak the appliance in mouthwash, alcohol, or hot water, and never use water hotter than about 120 °F — heat permanently warps the fit.
• Never clean it in the dishwasher or dry it with a hair dryer.

If you have a hard night guard

• Your guard takes the grinding so your teeth do not. Wear marks, scuffs, and shiny spots are normal — they are the appliance doing its job. We check the wear depth at your visits.
• Extra saliva and a “full” feeling are normal for the first several nights with a new guard, then fade.
• Wear it every night, or as directed. Grinding does not take nights off.
• If your bite feels off for more than a few minutes in the morning, or a specific tooth becomes sore, call us for an adjustment — small fit refinements are quick and expected.

If you have a sleep apnea appliance

• Your appliance works by holding the lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep, keeping the airway open. Seat both pieces fully, and connect them the way we showed you at delivery.
• Wash both the upper and lower splints inside and out with cool water each morning, then air dry completely before storing dry.
• Morning bite: your jaw may feel positioned slightly forward when you first remove the appliance. Gently guide your lower jaw back and hold it in its natural position for a few moments; chewing sugar-free gum for a few minutes also helps the bite reseat. This feeling should resolve shortly after removal.
• The connectors that set your jaw position wear with use — check them periodically for tears or stretching, and bring the appliance to every visit so we can inspect and replace them as needed.
• Keep any follow-up your sleep physician recommends — the appliance is one part of managing sleep apnea, and its effectiveness should be verified, not assumed.

Questions or concerns? We are here to help. Call 512-472-5633 or email info@koladentistry.com.

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