Cleaning Mistakes that Could Damage Your Mouth Guard

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Mouth guards are considered important dental tools for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re suffering from nighttime bruxism (teeth clenching & grinding), engaging in close contact sports, or are seeking protection for your teeth, mouth guards are essential.

However, mouth guard cleaning is often ignored, and improper cleaning methods not only damage them but can also result in reducing their effectiveness.

If you are a busy professional who balances an active, sporty lifestyle with a demanding job, you understand the struggle to keep your mouth guard in the best condition.

This blog will help you avoid common mouth guard cleaning mistakes that could lead to inefficient protection. Let’s dive in!

What Are Mouth Guards?

Mouth guards are highly recommended by dentists and dental care professionals for targeted oral health needs. Over time, these devices gained popularity and acceptance for various reasons, including the protection of jaws and teeth.

Some of these cases consist of teeth grinding (bruxism), where patients grind their teeth unconsciously. Especially when patients wear mouth guards at night, they are very effective for preventing teeth grinding, which can lead to a range of jaw problems.

Types of Mouth Guards

mouth guards
Woman holding transparent mouth guards

Different kinds of mouth guards consist of varying applications and uses. Here are some of the most common varieties of mouth guards available.

Boil & Bite: Crafted from strong thermoplastic materials, these are tailored to your unique teeth structure by molding them through boiling water and biting into them when they are in a softened state.

Sports Mouth guards: These are primarily made with a focus on sports athletes and offer adequate protection during high-impact and intense sports events.

Stock Mouth guards: These mouth guards are pre-made and available in standard sizes. While they are quite affordable when compared to some of the other mouth guards, they do not provide the same protection as custom-fit mouth guards.

Custom-Fit Mouth guards: Crafted from your dental impressions, they offer excellent protection and comfort but can be an expensive option.

At-Home Custom Variety: These custom mouth guards are similar to dentist-made versions, but the dental kit is supplied to customers to obtain an impression at their home.

Sleep Apnea-Focused Variety: These dental appliances help resolve patients’ sleep apnea issues by constantly shifting their jaw positions.

Snoring Focused Variety: Aimed primarily at reducing snoring, these mouth guards function to reposition your tongue and lower jaw.

Bruxism (grinding) Variety: These are primarily designed for patients suffering from teeth grinding (bruxism) at night or day; they reduce wear and tear as they act as cushions between teeth.

Order your custom mouth guard from ALIGNERCO today!

Ideal Mouth Guard Cleaning

Mouth guards
Mouth guards placed beside a toothbrush.

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene through day or night mouth guard cleaning is critical if you wish to keep your mouth guard in efficient condition for longer periods. Here are some useful tips crafted under the supervision of expert dentists:

Soft-Bristled Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Using a non-abrasive toothpaste with a gentle toothbrush is a very efficient and easy way to sanitize your mouth guard. You can choose a non-abrasive toothpaste option to minimize possible damage to the dental device while using it as a cleaner.

  • Use fluoride (non-abrasive) toothpaste to reduce any damage to dental devices.
  • Gently brush or scrub on various sides of your dental device with a focus on crevices and grooves.
  • Rinse your dental device under lukewarm water, removing all possible residue
  • Allow your dental device to dry before use.

Storage and Protection

When you are not using your dental device, store your mouth guard in a clean and dry place, like a container. This greatly reduces the chances of plaque or bacteria accumulation on its surface. Mouth guards should not be kept in moist or dark places, as they can promote bacterial growth.

Avoid Hot Water

Your mouth guard could easily warp if washed with boiling water. Always clean or rinse it by using slightly warm water and avoid extremely hot temperatures.

Rinse with Water

When you want to use your mouth guard, you must rinse it with normal tap or clean water. This helps in removing any leftover debris or bacteria that might not have been cleaned before.

Regular Consultations

This is to guarantee that your mouth guard is working efficiently. To avoid potential problems, you must schedule regular dental appointments with an experienced dentist to remove any bacteria buildup or tough stains. The dentist could suggest professional deep cleaning or polishing of your mouth guards.

Dental Cleaning Solution

These are special liquid solutions crafted to disinfect and clean dental appliances. These include mouth guards, aligners, or retainers. It is recommended to use a cleaner that is free from harsh chemicals to increase the lifespan of your dental device.

  • Submerge your orthodontic mouth guard in the cleaning solution.
  • Ensure your dental device remains soaked for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove your mouth guard and rinse it with warm water thoroughly.
  • Allow your dental device to dry out before placing it in a secure storage case.

Dental Mouthwash

A mouthwash is a clear antiseptic cleaning liquid that is used to freshen breath and kill all kinds of bacteria. It also acts as a great dental device cleaner. To clean your mouth guard, go for an alcohol-free mouthwash that includes efficient antibacterial ingredients for deep cleansing.

  • Submerge your dental mouth guard in a bowl filled with mouthwash.
  • Soak your mouth guard for a minimum of 10 minutes to remove all bacteria.
  • Rinse your mouth guard with lukewarm water.
  • Air dry your dental device and store it afterward in a secure container.

Baking Soda Cleaner

Baking soda is an ideal dental device cleaner and popular disinfectant, which removes various odors and bacteria. When used as a paste or in dry form, it is an effective way to clean your dental mouth guard.

  • Create a small paste quantity using water and baking soda.
  • Apply the small paste to your dental device.
  • Scrub your mouth guard gently with a gentle toothbrush.
  • Let your dental device sit and dry for five to 10 minutes.
  • Rinse with water thoroughly and let it dry out.

Proper mouth guard cleaning is essential for maintaining your oral health. This can range from using dental cleaning paste to specialized all-purpose solutions that offer efficient cleaning. Regular mouth guard cleaning and replacing them when required are ideal steps for optimal level protection.

Why Mouth Guard Cleaning Matters

Mouth guards provide ideal protection for your jaw and teeth. But they can become breeding grounds for plaque and bacteria if not cleaned on a regular basis. Inefficient cleaning does not only make it nasty; it can potentially damage it, compromise the fitting, and harm your oral health. Here are some of the potential damaging effects caused by inefficient cleaning:

Bacteria Buildup: Mouth guards are perfect places for bacteria accumulation. This leads to teeth or gum infections if not regularly cleaned the right way.

Surface Damage: Using improper cleaning methods can wrap, discolor, or weaken your dental device. This reduces its lifespan and effectiveness.

Develop Odors: An unhygienic mouth guard can be the cause of bad breath or odor, making it unfit to wear.

Understanding the proper methods to efficiently clean mouth guards can help avoid potential cleaning mistakes and help you keep your dental device in the best shape.

Obtain your custom sports mouth guard from ALIGNERCO for as low as

Cleaning Mistakes To Be Aware Of

Here’s a better look at various inefficient cleaning mistakes that could result in damaging your mouth guard and how you can avoid them:

Hot Water

You might be thinking that hot water is ideal for cleaning a mouth guard for removing germs and infections. But it can do more damage than good. Extremely hot water can soften your mouth guard materials, causing them to wrap or lose their fitting.

You should always rinse a mouth guards with slightly warm water. Its gentle nature will be vital to keeping the material intact while killing away all bacteria and removing any debris.

Using Toothpaste

Many people believe that toothpaste is a harmless cleaner for mouth guards. But unfortunately, that is not the case, as it can damage your mouth guards due to its abrasive nature. Toothpaste can contain harsh chemicals that can result in tiny grooves that can retain bacteria, making mouth guards harder to clean.

Use a mild or non-abrasive tooth paste with a soft toothbrush. This way, you can effectively attain better cleaning without causing any serious damage to your mouth guard. According to a research study by WILEY, “cleaning the mouth guard with water, neutral soap, and a toothbrush causes the least changes in surface material”.

Using Harsh Chemicals

You might be thinking that regular bleach or cleaning disinfectant will be enough for cleaning your mouth guard. However, this chemical can break down your mouth guard, causing them to become discolored or brittle. Furthermore, they leave certain residues that can be harmful for your health.

Use natural cleaning liquids or solutions, cleaning tablets, or a mixture of mild dish soap and water. These unique options are very efficient and safe to keep your mouth guard in ideal condition.

Skipping Daily Rinsing

You might think it is necessary to rinse your mouth guard every day, even if you have used it for a short period of time. However, hidden food particles, saliva, and bacteria can spread quickly, leading to potential dental risks and nasty odors.

Always rinse a mouth guard with slightly warm water after using it. This simple way removes most of the bacterial buildup.

Skipping Proper Storage

You might be eager to throw your mouth guard dental device onto the bathroom counter or your gym fanny pack. However, doing so exposes it to all kinds of dirt, bacteria, and possible damage. The lack of any significant protection can make your mouth guard unusable.

Always ensure that you store your dental device, like mouth guards, in a strong and ventilated case when not in active use. As a result, you protect your dental device from all bacteria and dust, ensuring it remains clean and functional.

Using a Dishwasher or Boiling Temperature Water

It might seem easy to just throw your mouth guard into your dishwasher or simply boil it for extra cleaning. But these ways are very damaging and aggressive, as high heat temperatures can wrap mouth guard materials. Aggressive cleaning can tear down the materials, making it less efficient.

Simply stick to cleaning your mouth guard with a gentle soap by hand. For better deep cleaning, you can use an all-purpose cleaning solution such as that offered by ALIGNERCO.

Ignoring Consistent Deep Cleaning

A quick water rinse is not enough to keep your mouth guard clean in the long run. Without proper deep cleaning of mouth guard, it can develop all kinds of bacteria, which could affect your dental health.

You need to deep clean your dental device at least once every week using a multi cleaning solution or any other way. This ensures that your dental mouth guard device remains effective and hygienic.

Custom Mouth Guards With ALIGNERCO

Keeping your dental device (mouth guards) clean isn’t simply about beauty or aesthetics. It concerns your ideal health and keeping your mouth guards in the best shape to ensure your dental protection. Understanding and avoiding everyday cleaning problems and adopting ideal care ways can effectively extend your mouth guard’s life, keeping it healthy and fresh.

So, create a proper mouth guard cleaning routine or schedule and follow it to protect your amazing smile. You can also obtain your custom mouth guard from at-home mouth guard suppliers such as ALIGNERCO as well.

Find out more about custom mouth guards by giving us a call at (365) 398 5838

FAQs

1. What is a mouth guard?

A mouth guard is a dental tool that provides ideal protection from bruxism (teeth grinding) and dental trauma (teeth fracture, dislodged teeth).

2. Can we use toothpaste for cleaning the mouth guard?

No, toothpaste can do more damage than good for cleaning your mouth guard. Use a mild soap or mouth guard cleaning solution.

3. Can we use boiling hot water for deep cleaning the mouth guard?

No, you should not use boiling water, as it can damage your mouth guard, reducing its effectiveness.

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