If you have to wear a mouth guard for sports or a night guard to prevent your teeth from grinding, it is important to follow a regular cleaning routine. The last thing you want to deal with is a dirty mouth guard. Luckily, cleaning a mouth guard is quick and easy. You just need to know how to clean it properly. That’s why Soluria is here to give you some key tips on cleaning it.

Cleaning Mouth Guard Tip #1: Soak Your Mouth Guard at Least Once a Week

There is a variety of cleaning solutions to soak the mouth guard in. To prevent yourself from constantly having to deal with a dirty mouth guard or night guard, you will need to deep soak it at least once a week. Some people even soak their mouth guards once a day. You can use a homemade mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide or an over-the-counter cleaner like Invisalign crystals. Soaking your mouth guards is easy. Once the solutions are ready, simply place the trays inside them for 30 minutes.

How to Make Your Own Cleaning Solution

If you want to make your own mouth guard cleaning solution, you have a few different ingredients you can use. Depending on what substance you use, you might need to soak your device for a little longer than 30 minutes. For instance, solutions made of baking soda and water take around 60 minutes for a thorough cleaning. However, water solutions containing soap, vinegar, and peroxide, only take around 20 to 30 minutes to clean your mouth or night guards. After the trays are finished soaking, rinse them down with water before letting them dry.

Tip #2: Rinse Your Device Every Morning

Rinsing Your Mouth Guard Takes Less Than a Minute. You should always rinse off your mouth guard before and after putting it in your mouth. If you are wearing a nightguard, remember to clean it every morning. Make sure you rinse them with cool or warm water, as hot water can actually soften the material and gradually warp the shape, thus preventing you from being able to use it. When you finish rinsing your mouth guard, gently scrub any leftover plaque or saliva with a toothbrush. Before placing your mouth guard back into your case, make sure both your mouth guard and your case is clean and dry. It usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes for a mouth guard to finish drying.

Tip #3: Thoroughly Brush Your Mouth Guard

Along with your weekly soak treatment and regular rinses, you should also brush your mouth guards on a daily basis. Instead of a toothbrush, you need to brush your mouth guards with gentle antibacterial soap, such as dish soap or hand soap, that is both clear and unscented. Many toothpaste brands are too abrasive and can create tiny scratches and tears in your mouth guards or night guards, creating little spaces where bacteria can hide out and build up.

To start, simply dip your toothbrush into the solution or pour it onto your trays. Gently scrub them in a circular motion, but you don’t need to scrub aggressively in order to properly clean them. When you are finished, rinse them and let them dry.

Tip #4: Keep a Cleaning Spray in Your Bag

Cleaning your mouth guard doesn’t have to take forever or require a great deal of effort on your part. If you want to save time on cleaning your mouth guards, consider purchasing a special spray designed to clean retainers, dentures, and all types of mouth guards. For instance, the Smile Saver™ Spray Cleaner for Retainers & Oral Devices offers a fast and easy cleaning solution for tray wearers. Not only does it eliminate bacteria, but it is also completely free of sugar, alcohol, peroxide, and other artificial ingredients.

With a fresh burst of natural spearmint flavor, Smile Saver effectively cleans clear aligners, mouth guards, retainers, night guards, and dentures. It even works on toothbrushes and water picks! With this quick and thorough spray, you can remove unpleasant odors and clean off unpleasant mouth guard substances in an instant before going on with your day. Many people wear night guards and mouth guards to protect their teeth. To ensure that your devices stay fresh, clean, and useful, it is important to develop a cleaning routine you can stick to. People who slack on their hygiene will have to deal with dirty mouth guards and retainers, which makes them less appealing to wear as directed. Luckily, cleaning mouth guards is easy when you stick to a routine. Contact the team at Soluria today to learn more about our products.