Night guards are protective oral devices worn while you sleep. The purpose of wearing a night guard is to protect against teeth grinding and teeth clenching that many adults suffer from. It’s a dangerous habit that can end up being costly if not properly protected. While night guards are great for protecting your teeth against grinding, over time, they can become yellow and you may wonder why is my night guard turning yellow. Let’s take a look at a few reasons for your night guard turning yellow and some solutions to prevent it from happening.
Why is My Night Guard Turning Yellow?
Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, no matter how well you keep up with your oral cleaning. As food and liquids enter your mouth they leave behind tiny particles on your gums and teeth. You may brush your teeth twice a day, but there will always be a little remainder of the particles. The longer those particles are in your mouth, the more bacteria they will grow.
Why is my night guard turning yellow? Well, as the bacteria in your mouth grows it can combine with the saliva. When it does that, it starts to build plaque and tartar on your teeth. When you put your night guard into your mouth, bacteria is transferred onto the surface of the night guard. If not properly cleaned nightly or weekly, the plaque and tartar can begin to breed more bacteria on your night guard turning it yellow or white. If you have white spots on your night guard it’s calcium deposits or plaque and tartar.
Your mouth will produce biofilm which is a thin bacteria film over your teeth. When this film is transferred onto your night guard it can turn yellow if left uncleaned. The longer that this film remains on your night guard the greater the chance of your night guard turning yellow.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Night Guard and Oral Hygiene
Keeping yellow spots and discoloration away from your night guard begins with good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth daily will help remove food particles left behind from eating as well as reducing the bacteria in your mouth. The fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less chance of your night guard turning yellow. Brushing your teeth removes the biofilm that coats your teeth. You’ll need to floss too to help remove food particles stuck between your teeth.
How To Clean A Night Guard Turning Yellow
But what happens when your night guard care routine has been lacking and it turns yellow? Is your night guard ready for the trash can? You can try and remove calcium deposits and stains with a few different methods, but if they don’t come off, chances are you may need a new night guard.
If you have tried a night guard soak product, such as Fresh Guard by Efferdent, and still see your night guard turning yellow, crusty areas, or discoloration on your night guard, there are a couple of things you can try. They include:
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda – If your night guard has developed a yellowish appearance, a mixture of 50% water, 50% hydrogen peroxide, and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda make an effective yet gentle soak for your night guard. Begin by brushing your night guard with the solution and a soft brush. Overnight soaking can be done in cases of extreme discoloration.
- Distilled White Vinegar and Water – Distilled white vinegar with an acidity of 5% or less mixed with an equal part of water helps to soften those white, crusty, barnacle-like spots on your night guard. Soak your night guard for at least 30 minutes before using a soft bristle brush to try and remove the crusty spots. Vinegar can leave a strong taste behind, so once you have removed all the spots, give your night guard a quick soak in Fresh Guard by Efferdent.
My Night Guard is Turning Yellow and It Can’t Be Cleaned
Sometimes, no matter what you do, those stubborn crusty spots or yellow stains still remain. While you may be able to live with the yellowish stains, hard white crusty spots can create a problem. As they continue to grow, they can affect how your night guard fits and can eventually cause damage to your night guard. In addition, they are a magnet for bacteria and can even make you sick. It’s important to note that with proper care, most night guards will last for 1-2 years before you need a replacement depending on heavy you grind or clench.
If your night guard is turning yellow, your best bet is to replace it. While this can be a costly expense through your orthodontist, SportingSmiles can help. Your dentist charges a high cost for a night guard because he has to make a mold of your teeth, send the mold to a lab, have them make the retainer and ship it back, and then deliver it to you. With SportingSmiles, you use our patented self-impression kit to make your own mold, ship it to our dental lab in the pre-paid package, and our technicians created the same high-quality night guard you would get from your dentist. The difference is we save you hundreds of dollars. For more information, visit our Night Guard section today!
