How often should you clean a dental mouth guard to maintain oral health?

A mouth guard is important to protect one’s mouth when playing sports, grinding teeth at night, or snoring loudly. Custom-made mouth guards provide the best comfort and protection. Regular cleaning of a mouth guard prevents bacteria and other pathogens from causing oral infection, contributes to the smell of a mouth guard, and is one of the causes of bad breath. Xiamen Yizhou Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd is one of the best custom mouth guard manufacturers, and with 18 years of experience, they have created a mouth guard that meets high quality standards, covering both the FDA and ISO guidelines. The purpose of this article is to help you answer the question of how often one should clean a custom-made mouth guard and provide simple yet effective ways to keep a mouth guard clean and in good shape so that it serves you well and protects your mouth from oral health problems.

How Often Should You Clean a Custom Mouth Guard?

How often a custom mouth guard should be cleaned will depend on how often the mouth guard is used. If the mouth guard sees daily use, like for teeth grinding or snoring issues, a custom mouth guard should be cleaned at least once a day. If possible, try to clean the guard right after use to make sure that saliva, food debris, and bacteria do not accumulate. For occasional use like for sports, be sure to clean the mouth guard before and after every use. Yizhou’s custom mouth guard is made to be easy to clean, is BPA free, and made out of EVA material that is resistant to bacterial growth. Following the recommendations above will ensure your custom mouth guard is kept in healthy, hygienic, and useful condition for long term use.

Care for Custom Mouth Guard with Daily Cleaning Methods

Taking surface contaminants off a custom mouth guard can easily be done with simple and effective steps. To begin, wash away debris by rinsing the custom mouth guard under cool, running water. Be sure to avoid hot water as that can cause the material to warp. Then take a soft bristled toothbrush with mild soap, or non-abrasive toothpaste, and gently scrub all surfaces of the custom mouth guard. Be sure to pay attention to any bacteriary crevices. Xiamen Yizhous suggests rinsing soap residue completely as you should avoid harsh chemicals or alcohol-based cleaners. Those can damage the material of the mouth guard and change the way the mouth guard fits. Taking a few minutes to run through this daily routine can extend the life span of the custom mouth guard significantly.

Hygiene and Oral Health

A custom mouth guard and it could be beneficial for both you and your patient to do a thorough cleaning of the guard at least once a week to thoroughly eliminate the potential for stubborn bacteria and odors to fester. One such way to do this that has been proven to work is for you as the patient to soak the mouth guard in an equal part mixture of water and white vinegar for about 15- 20 minutes. This vinegar will do the trick and work to eliminate the bacteria while still being safe for the material to be cleaned. You could also use a cleaner that is specifically for mouth guards but, it is crucial that it works with silicone and EVA materials. Once the mouth guard has been soaked, be sure to thoroughly rinse it in cold water and let it air dry. The custom mouth guards from Xiamen Yizhou are meant to endure regular deep cleaning, sustaining their shape and best performance. This process of minus the soaking will be to ensure that no plaque or tartar is building up on the mouth guard and that it will be as hygienic and odorless as it possibly can be.

Storing Mouth Guards After Cleaning

In addition to cleaning, proper storage is essential to maintaining the quality of a custom mouth guard. After cleaning, let the mouth guard air dry completely before putting it into a storage container that is clean and breathable. Do not use sealed plastic bags or other air-tight containers because they hold moisture, encouraging the growth of bacteria. With the custom mouth guard from Xiamen Yizhou, you will receive a storage case that has ventilation holes. Keep the case in a cool, dry area that isn't exposed to direct sunlight or heat sources that could harm the material. Do not store the custom mouth guard with other dental tools or accessories to avoid cross contamination. With proper storage and cleaning, you can make sure that you keep the custom mouth guard safe and ready to be used.

Signs Your Custom Mouth Guard Needs Replacement

Though you may be cleaning your custom mouth guard regularly, there is still a limited lifespan. The material may begin to thin, change color, or develop cracks and lose effectiveness. Xiamen Yizhou recommends a replacement of custom mouth guards every 6-12 months based on usage. If you have any of the following issues, please consider a new custom mouth guard: constant bad breath, or cleaning and the guard still doesn’t fit, or you notice any damage. If you are an athlete and need to wear the mouth guard daily, replacement is likely needed more often. Investing in a new mouth guard is a best practice to keep your mouth guarded properly and to keep your mouth healthy in the long run.

Advice from Xiamen Yizhou

Xiamen Yizhou also wants customers to know the best way to maintain your mouth guard and oral health. Do not bite or chew on the mouth guard, as damaging the guard can leave room for bacteria to grow and may leave other areas of your mouth at risk of infection. Additionally, for the sake of hygiene, do not share mouth guards with others. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for care, and check your guard on a regular basis for signs of damage. All mouth guards provided by Xiamen Yizhou are durable and made of high quality materials, but they do require care and maintenance. If you keep these tips in mind, you will keep your mouth guard in great condition to insure your mouth stays healthy.