🦷 Dental Aftercare
Night Guard / Splint Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for night guard / splint: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Typical recovery: about 7 daysDental
What to expect
Why You Need This
- •Protects teeth from grinding (bruxism) damage
- •Reduces jaw pain, headaches, and tooth wear
- •Helps prevent cracked teeth and expensive dental work
Night Guard / Splint recovery, day by day
Night 1-3 (Adjustment)
Wearing Your Guard
- Wear every night as directed; consistency is key
- Slight soreness in teeth and jaw is normal for the first few nights
- Increased saliva production is normal and will decrease
- If the guard feels too tight or painful, call for an adjustment
Cleaning
- Rinse with cool water after each use
- Brush with a soft toothbrush (no toothpaste, it's abrasive)
- Store in the provided case, never in a napkin or pocket
- Keep away from pets (they love chewing guards)
Night 4-7
Getting Used to It
- Most people adjust fully within 1-2 weeks
- Morning jaw stiffness should decrease over time
- Bring the guard to dental checkups for evaluation
- Replace if cracks, holes, or significant wear develop
When to call your provider or 911
- •Severe jaw pain that doesn't improve after a week of wearing the guard
- •Teeth feel loose or shifting
- •Guard causes sores or cuts inside your mouth
- •Jaw locks open or closed
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 3
Adjusted to guard
Soreness and extra saliva should subside
- Day 7
Full comfort
Guard feels natural as part of nightly routine
For clinics
Stop photocopying aftercare sheets.
QR Rx sends this exact night guard / splint recovery plan to every patient, branded to your practice, opened by a QR code. It checks in automatically, answers post-op questions, asks for a review at the right moment, and brings patients back for their next visit. The aftercare you already owe every patient, doing the work of keeping them.
HIPAA compliant. No credit card. Cancel anytime.