The Best Way to Clean Your Mouthguard, Night Guard or Retainer

Mouth guards, night guards, and retainers are very helpful dental appliances, but unfortunately, many people neglect these items which can lead to dirty/damaged appliances or costly replacements. Mouthguards protect your teeth, so why shouldn’t you protect it from damage and harm? Caring for these items is important and easy to do. Here are a few retainer, night guard, and mouthguard cleaning tips:

Use an antibacterial solution.

While even water is better than nothing, don’t just give the mouthguard a quick rinse and think that is enough. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure it is clean and germ-free. Make sure to properly rinse before inserting in the mouth to avoid the soapy taste.

Thoroughly clean your mouthguard at least once a month.

At least once a month, it is crucial to deep clean a mouthguard. While many people think that using a toothbrush and toothpaste for a mouthguard makes sense since it kills germs, the scrubbing motion of a toothbrush on a mouthguard can lead to the plastic being broken down and shortening the life of the mouthguard. Denture cleaner is gentler and very effective. The effervescent quality works to get into small spaces better where bacteria love to thrive.

Clean your case.

We are guilty of sometimes putting our mouthguard back in its case without cleaning it, but that can lead to bacteria staying in the case and making an unhealthy environment to store your dental appliance. The case can be more aggressively cleaned than the actual mouthguard, so grab an old toothbrush, and some hot water an antibacterial soap like Guard Health and scrub it clean!

Replace your mouthguard, when needed.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes mouthguards need to be replaced. Pay close attention to the point when any cracks start to become large. They can cut the cheeks or trap bacteria easily and spread infection.