Kissing after custom mouthguard: the short version
You can kiss immediately after a mouthguard fitting. The visit is only impressions or a scan and changes nothing in your mouth. Once you have the guard, the one point of etiquette and hygiene is simple: take the guard out first and put it in its case.
What is actually going on
A mouthguard covers the teeth in a layer of plastic that makes kissing awkward and, for a sports guard, nearly impossible. It also carries a film of saliva and bacteria from hours of wear. Removing it and putting it in its case, not on a bedside table or a bench, keeps it clean and undamaged. For people who wear a night guard, the usual routine is that the guard goes in last thing, after brushing and after saying goodnight. If you take it out again briefly, rinse it before it goes back in. Morning breath can be stronger with a night guard because saliva flow under it is reduced overnight, so rinse the guard and brush your teeth and tongue when you get up. A guard that smells despite daily cleaning may need a professional clean or replacing.
The first time, step by step
A mouthguard fitting does not change anything about kissing. If impressions were taken, your lips may be a little stretched and there can be a chalky or minty taste for a short while; a rinse clears it. Once you have the guard, the order of events is the only thing to learn: guard out and into the case, then the kiss, then, for a night guard, a quick rinse of the guard before it goes back in. If a new night guard leaves your teeth feeling tight or your bite briefly odd in the morning, that usually passes within the hour. A guard that hurts or rocks should be checked by your dentist.
Kiss After Custom Mouthguard: What You Need to Know
Wait time
After a custom mouthguard, you can typically resume kissing immediately.
Why
No concerns
Tips for Kissing After Custom Mouthguard
- 01Take the guard out and store it in its case before kissing; do not leave it loose where it can be sat on or chewed by a pet.
- 02Make the night guard the final step of your bedtime routine, after brushing.
- 03Rinse and brush the guard each morning to keep odor from building up.
Common mistakes
- 01Saying goodnight with the guard already in and trying to kiss around it. The plastic holds the lips forward and bumps a partner's teeth, and people then stop wearing the guard instead of changing the order.
- 02Kissing a partner on the sideline with a sports guard hanging half out of the mouth. A guard chewed and dangled between plays stretches out of shape, and it picks up whatever it touches.
- 03Skipping the night guard altogether on nights a partner stays over. Grinding does not take evenings off, and missed nights let the wear and jaw soreness creep back; talk to the dentist if the guard feels embarrassing.
Other Activities After Custom Mouthguard
See when you can do other activities after your custom mouthguard:
Table 1 — Other activities after custom mouthguard
| Activity | Wait |
|---|---|
| Use a Straw | Immediately |
| Eat Normally | Immediately |
| Smoke | No restriction |
| Drink Alcohol | No restriction |
| Drive | Immediately |
| Exercise | Immediately |
Recovery info
Recovery timelines are general guidelines based on typical cases. Individual recovery may vary based on your health, the complexity of your procedure, and other factors. Your own dentist's or surgeon's post-operative instructions always take priority over anything on this page. Call them if you are unsure.