How To Keep Your Mouth Guard Clean

Sports injuries and teeth grinding are common reasons for tooth damage, such as chips, cracks, and breaks. If you’re active in contact sports like hockey, football, and basketball, your risk of getting a blow to the face or jaw is extremely high. Wearing a mouth guard during the game cushions you against oral injuries. A mouth guard is also essential to prevent tooth damage and other harmful effects of teeth grinding. Our dentist in North Brunswick, NJ, can also recommend a mouth guard to manage other oral conditions like snoring and MTD.

Since the mouth guard is worn over the mouth, excellent oral hygiene is critical. Usually, your mouth contains harmful bacteria. Not cleaning your mouth guard after every use causes bacterial plaque to build up on your mouth guard, potentially leading to bad breath, tooth decay, oral thrush, and gum disease. If you’re wondering how to clean your mouthguard, this guide should help.

Cleaning your Mouth Guard at Home

Fortunately, cleaning your mouth should be straightforward. Usually, you don’t need any special and expensive dental tools or products. Below are common steps that you can use:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. It’s best not to use your regular toothbrush to prevent cross-contamination of oral bacteria. Hard brushes can also damage your mouthguard.
• Rinse your mouthguard in cool water
• Smear a small amount of non-abrasive toothpaste on the brush. You can also use alternative cleaning products such as mild alcohol-free soap, cleanser solution, mouthwash, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. Consult your dentist for a quality cleaner for your mouthguard. That way, there’s less risk of using abrasive products that can damage your mouthguard.
• Gently brush the mouthguard, both on the interior and exterior.
• Rinse the mouthguard thoroughly with cool water to remove the toothpaste or suds.
• Allow the mouthguard to dry.
• Place the mouthguard in its case when not in use.

Can you clean a mouthguard with chemicals?

While your mouthguard contains artificial materials, it can be damaged when exposed to abrasive products or chemicals regularly, reducing its efficiency and longevity. Therefore, if you must use an OTC denture cleaner, ensure it’s non-abrasive and follow the manufacturer’s instructions strictly. It’s also worth noting that certain chemical cleansers contain artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances and thus might not be the best choice.

Soaking your mouthguard

Once in a while, it’s essential to soak your mouthguard to eliminate hard and stubborn plaque and bacteria trapped on it. Be sure to clean your mouthguard first before soaking. Most cleaners require the following steps:

• Put warm water in a clean glass or bowl.
• Add the cleanser. It can be in liquid, powder, or tablet form.
• Gently put the mouthguard in the solution.
• Allow it to soak for 10 – 15 minutes according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
• Allow the mouthguard to dry.
• Place it in its case.

Caring for your mouthguard

In addition to cleaning your mouthguard, use these tips to care for and keep it clean:

• Allow the mouthguard to dry completely before storing to limit bacterial build-up.
• Store the guard in a clean, dry, and well-vented container.
• Avoid cleaning the guard using hot water or exposing it to high temperatures or sunlight.
• Keep the guard away from children and pets.
• Hold the guard carefully when cleaning it. You can clean it with a towel.
• Brush and floss your mouth before and after wearing the mouthguard.
• Do not share the mouthguard.
• Avoid chewing gum or food with the mouthguard.
• Take your mouthguard to the dentist during routine dental visits.

When to replace your mouthguard

Over time, your mouthguard can wear down or get damaged. It makes it in-efficient to protect you adequately in case of sports injuries and regular teeth grinding. Generally, a sports mouthguard should be replaced every six months or at the end of the sports season. A night guard for bruxism has an average lifespan of 1-5 years. Your dentist will check the condition of your mouthguard during routine dental checkups to determine whether you need a replacement. Visit our dental office if your mouthguard is damaged or worn-out.

Schedule an appointment today

Do you need a custom mouthguard? Contact KK Dental –North Brunswick to speak with our dentist in North Brunswick.