Mouthguards are the perfect solution to broken teeth from playing sports. It doesn’t matter what sport you or your child is playing, you need a mouthguard to keep you protected from oral injuries at all times during a game. From hockey to football, and even baseball, a mouthguard has you covered.
If you frequently wear a mouthguard to keep you protected during your games, you need to know how to clean it. Knowing how to clean a mouthguard is another way to keep your mouth protected. As wonderful as mouthguards are, without the proper care, they can become breeding grounds for all sorts of bacteria.
If you’re not sure of the proper ways to clean your mouthguard, then you’ll want to continue reading below. Here are several different ways you can ensure you keep your mouthguard clean with a few extra tips as well!
Morning Routine
Every single morning before using your mouthguard, you need to clean it. You should also rinse the mouthguard off after every use as well. After cleaning your mouthguard, you need to rinse it in water to remove any cleaner residue.
You can then shake it to dry it, or you can use a towel and pat it dry. Once you’ve completely dried it off, you can then store your mouthguard until your next use.
Having a morning routine for cleaning your mouthguard prevents bacteria and mold from growing on it. This, in return, stops your mouthguard from having a foul smell. Stick to a good routine and you can expect your mouthguard to last you for quite some time.
However, having a morning cleaning routine means knowing exactly what to clean your mouthguard with and how to clean it.
Different Ways to Clean
There are a few different ways that you can clean your mouthguard. The best advice we can give is to try a few different cleaning methods and stick with the one that works best for you. Here’s what you need to know.Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a great way to clean many things around the house. Your mouthguard just happens to be one more thing to add to the list. When using hydrogen peroxide to clean your mouthguard, be sure to use 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Rinse your mouthguard with the hydrogen peroxide for about 10 minutes. You can also soak it in the hydrogen peroxide as well. When done, dry it off and store it.
Soap and Water
There’s nothing like your basic soap and water. We sometimes forget to remember how simple, yet effective washing things with soap and warm water is. When using the soap and water method, remember to use anti-bacterial soap.
You would think that all soap by now should be anti-bacterial, but that just isn’t the case so be sure to take a look at the type of soap you’re using before cleaning. Any other soap won’t get those pesky germs off as you need it to do.
A Toothbrush
A toothbrush is another famous household cleaning item that is sometimes overlooked. How much easier can it be to clean your mouthguard other than using your toothpaste and toothbrush? There is a bit of a catch, however.
When using a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your mouthguard with, you need to be sure that the toothbrush is a soft-bristled one and that your toothpaste is non-abrasive. Brush your mouthguard and then give it a good rinse and dry before storing it.
Mouthguard Cleaners
If you want to get real fancy, there are mouthguard cleaners available. These cleaners are non-alcohol based and will clean your mouthguard with a simple soak. After soaking, you’ll pat it dry and store it.
Storing It
Storing your mouthguard might take a bit more effort than you anticipated, but it’s nothing drastic. How often have you found yourself placing your mouthguard inside your sports bag? This is what you don’t want to do.
When you’ve cleaned your mouthguard and are ready to store it until its next use, you need to ensure that you’ve dried it completely, and then store it in a ventilated case.
What Not to do
We’ve told you a few things that you need to do in regards to your mouthguard, but what about the things that you shouldn’t do?
For one, you should never boil your mouthguard to clean it. Sure, boiling items is a great way to kill all of those nasty germs, but boiling your mouthguard is a no-no. If you boil your mouthguard, the shape of the mouthguard will change, and you’ll need to have it reshaped to your mouth.
General Tips
Some other general tips for keeping your mouthguard clean are to leave it in your mouth and don’t constantly touch it with your fingers. The more you use your hands to touch it or remove it and replace it in your mouth, the better chance it has to grow bacteria.
If you need to remove the mouthguard every time you need to either eat or drink, then you should consider having one custom made to fit your mouth perfectly.
Learn How to Clean a Mouthguard the Right Way!
After reading this guide, we hope you now know how to clean a mouthguard the right way. Use these tips listed above and your mouthguard will last you for quite some time!
And for those nightly teeth grinders, be sure to check out our grinding guards as well!
1 comment
[…] I Need a Teeth Grinding Guard? 7… Your Comprehensive Guide to Dental Retainers and Wearing… How to Clean a Mouthguard: Advice for Teens… Retainers 101: How Often Should You Be Replacing… Braces Finally Off? 3 Important Tips To […]