How Do I Care for My Sports Mouthguard

Your sports mouthguard goes through a lot doing its job of protecting your teeth during physical sports. It protects your teeth from getting chipped, fractured, or completely knocked out. The least you can do for it is clean it regularly.

Learning how to care for your mouthguard for sports will not only extend the useful life of this invaluable dental appliance, but also keep your mouth smelling fresh. Read on to learn the most effective yet simplest way to clean a mouthguard, how often you should do it, and how a clean mouthguard can improve your oral health and comfort.

Why Proper Mouthguard Care Is Crucial

A sports mouthguard, also known as a gumshield, is different from an ordinary mouthguard in that its primary purpose is to cushion and protect your lips, gums, teeth, and jaw from hard impacts in contact sports. Its role is different from the corrective function people usually think of when they wonder, Can mouth guards straighten your teeth?

When you are wearing a mouthguard, it is awash with your saliva. This saliva is a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria and plaque. If you don’t clean your mouthguard regularly, you not only decrease its effectiveness but also risk developing dental issues.

Step-By-Step Process to Clean a Mouthguard

Follow these steps to mouthguard care:

• Take your sports mouthguard off. It’s not a good idea to try to clean it while it’s still in your mouth.
• Wash it under regular tap water.
• Dispense a small amount of a mild soap onto a toothbrush. It does not have to be your regular toothbrush; just any old brush with soft bristles would do.
• Give your mouthguard a gentle scrubbing with the brush, making sure to clean out any dirt or residue hiding in its nooks and crannies.
• Now rinse it out with water again and leave it to dry.
• Store it in a vented carrying case.

This is it. It is as simple and easy as brushing your teeth. It requires the same tools as well. This is the bare minimum care that you can give to your mouthguard, so that you are not walking around carrying dirt and harbouring bacteria in your dental appliance.

When to Deep Clean a Sports Mouthguard

If you haven’t cleaned your mouthguard in a while, you might need more than just simple brushing. You will need a cleaning solution formulated specifically for dental appliances. These contain hydrogen peroxide, which can neutralize any bacteria that might be hiding in the porous surface of the guard.

Alternatively, you can prepare a simple at-home cleaning solution to clean your mouthguard. Take one part white vinegar and mix it with three parts water. Then leave your guard dipped in it for about 15 to 30 minutes. It will lift any stubborn surface stains or mineral buildup.

Why You Should Get a Custom-Fit Sports Guard

You can give a mouthguard all the TLC in the world, but it won’t amount to much if it does not fit properly and you are constantly having to think about it while playing. While you can make do with a boil-and-bite sports mouthguard from the sports shop, if you are really serious about your sport, you cannot really compromise on a custom-fitted mouthguard.

And you don’t need to make any visits to your dentist or orthodontist either. You can order one right from your home. Within a few days of ordering, an impression kit will arrive at your address. Now, all that’s left for you to do is take impressions of your teeth and ship the kit back to be used as the basis for your custom-made sports mouthguard.

Within a few weeks, you will receive your personalized mouthguard, crafted to sit perfectly on your teeth. It might cost you a bit more upfront, but it’s well worth the investment as it will outlive many store-bought ones. You can take care of this custom guard in the same manner: brushing it with mild soap, drying it, and storing it.

What Not to Do When Caring for a Sports Mouthguard

With proper mouthguard care on a regular basis, it will keep it looking good and smelling fresh. But there are a few things to keep in mind while cleaning it, or you can inadvertently damage it. Here are the precautions when cleaning a mouthguard:

• Do not use boiling water, as high heat can warp the plastic.
• Do not use bleach or any other harsh household chemicals, as they can break down its material.
• Do not put it in your microwave oven, as the heat can deform it.
• Do not use an alcohol-based mouthwash, as it can lead to cracks later on.
• Do not scrub it with a hard-bristle brush, as it can cause micro-scratches.

When to Replace Your Sports Guard

If you give your mouthguard a proper wash after using it, you can make it last for a long time. But there will come a point when no amount of scrubbing or soaking will be able to return it to its former comfort, form, and function. If you notice any of these signs in your mouthguard, it means it’s time to replace it:

• If cracks or tears start appearing on it, or if it’s thinning out in places.
• If you can’t get rid of its odour even after giving it a deep clean.
• If stubborn yellow stains form on it, or if it gets cloudy (in the case of a clear mouthguard).
• If it’s starting to get loose and slips while playing.
• If your bite has changed, especially for teenagers.

Not only do worn-out sports mouthguards look bad, but they are also less effective at protecting you from impact, in addition to harbouring bacteria and causing a range of dental issues.

A Little Sports Mouthguard Care Goes a Long Way

In the end, your sports mouthguard is not just a piece of plastic; it’s a crucial part of your athletic life. While wearing it, you can focus all your attention on the play at hand, instead of worrying about getting your teeth fractured. Basically, if you look after your sports mouthguard, it will look after you.

When you are wearing a clean and well-cared-for mouthguard, you don’t even think about it. The last thing you need in the heat of play is getting distracted by a foul taste. All it takes to keep it clean and safe is two minutes of your time after the game or a training session. The simple process is an indication that you are respecting your body, your sport, and your well-being.

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