Patients may wear dental mouthguards to prevent grinding or clenching of their teeth. They are also used to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms and protect teeth from harm during sports.
Learning how to clean a mouthguard after each usage is critical, just as it is with any other gear. It is critical to maintain your mouthguard for it to continue to protect your teeth. Patients learning how to clean a mouthguard can simply incorporate their guards into their everyday dental care procedures at home or get help from a dentist in Orange Park, FL.
Reasons to wear a mouthguard
Mouthguards are common in sports, particularly high-impact ones like football or rugby. Broken or chipped teeth may result from the habit of falling, bumping, or striking opponents. As a result, players wear mouthguards to bite on instead. Mouthguards can be bought in stores or custom-made for your mouth at your dentist’s office. Mouthguards might also assist if you experience clenching or grinding problems at night. These gadgets are sometimes referred to as night guards. If you play high-impact sports or are concerned about teeth grinding, consult your dentist about wearing a mouthguard. Professional advice can be obtained from your dental hygienist or dentist.
Why your mouthguard must be cleaned
Mouthguards, like toothbrushes, can retain food particles and bacterial plaque after use. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, mouthguards are porous, which means they provide excellent hiding spots for bacterial plaque and food debris. It is the same as reusing an old toothbrush or dirty cutlery. Mouthguards, if not cleaned on a regular basis, may increase your risk of infection and gum disease. Cleaning your mouthguard well after each usage may eliminate bacterial plaque and food particles and prevent this from happening again.
How to clean your mouthguard
Brush your mouthguard gently with water and a toothbrush with soft bristles. You can use a different one if you do not want to use your regular toothbrush for this. Avoid using toothpaste to clean your mouthguard. This is overly rough and may cause damage to the mouthguard.
The next step in keeping a mouthguard clean is to use mouthwash to clean it further. You may destroy any bacteria on the mouthguard by immersing it in mouthwash. The mouthguard should then be rinsed with cold water. Avoid soaking the mouthguard in mouthwash overnight, as this may cause it to get damaged.
Allow the clean mouthguard to dry fully on a clean surface. Bacterial growth may develop if your mouthguard is not entirely dry. The drying time is usually between 15 and 30 minutes.
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