How to Clean a Night Watch Because It’s Dirtier Than You Think
When I received the night mouth guard, the woman who made the impressions was adamant that I only rinse it with warm water every day and occasionally let the soft bristles of my toothbrush scrape excess oral cavity from her delicate features. That would be enough, she assured me. (I was skeptical.) She was also adamant that I never, ever use toothpaste, as its abrasive nature could scratch the plastic of the guard and ruin its shape.
Which is fair. But what was unfair was the mess of chalky, calcified discoloration that this “care plan” left me with over time. It turns out that this minimum of cleaning is not enough to keep your mouthguard looking fresh.
It’s true, you should rinse your shield with warm water every morning and remove any build-up if necessary. But you should also deep clean weekly or semi-annually, as mouthguards are porous and contain a lot of bacteria, yeast, and mold. According to Academy of General Dentistry spokesman Bruce Burton , mouthguards “have the potential to become a reservoir for bacteria that can cause gum infections or bacteria that promote tooth decay.”
So, in addition to daily rinsing, there are various methods for regularly deep cleaning mouthguards to avoid bacteria buildup and discoloration.
Denture cleaner: Soak overnight protection in an over-the-counter denture cleaner for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse and air dry. (Results: Aside from the pleasure of watching the bubbles rise up and create a fresh, clean taste in the mouth, the denture cleaner did little to nothing to remove accumulated plaque and discoloration. The results could have been better if I had done so. before. ; my defense needed something more than a sodium hypochlorite effervescence.)
Mouthwash and water : Mix one capful of non-alcoholic mouthwash and enough water to submerge a nightlight in a cup; immerse and hold for 30 minutes. (The results were not the same as with denture cleaner.)
Vinegar + Hydrogen Peroxide : Soak the mouthguard in a cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly, then soak it in hydrogen peroxide for another 30 minutes. Hydrogen peroxide, according to Target Up & Up’s trademark label, is a “mouth cleanser.” According to Dr. Peter Wilk of Grand Avenue Dental Care , oral debridement is “the massive removal of plaque and tartar that prevents a dentist from performing a comprehensive oral examination.”
Results: This method removed far more deposits than denture cleaner or mouthwash, even if they didn’t look brand new. (Perhaps this is not possible.) It looked better, but there was a white film in places.
Mild soap : Apply an alcohol-free soap, such as castile soap or dish soap, with a toothbrush before rinsing and drying. (Avoid rinsing with hot water at all stages, as this may deform the shape.)
Non-abrasive toothpaste : Brush your teeth with a non-abrasive (or rather, slightly abrasive) toothpaste made with calcium peroxide or potassium nitrate instead of sodium fluoride. See here for a list of brands recommended by dentists.
Baking Soda : Pro Teeth Guard involves making your own paste with baking soda and water and brushing as the recommended cleaner. (Results: Fur. Still looks like a date can be used with a tartar scraper. I’m sure that’s a very bad idea.)
Cleaning the Case : Remember to regularly clean your humble mouthguard carrying case with dish soap and warm water. That’s where germs and bacteria hide.
Moral of the story: Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that all you need for a mouth guard is warm water, even if they work in a dentist’s office. If you’ve tried several of the above methods and it still looks dirty, bring it to your next dentist appointment and they can professionally clean it or determine if you need a new one. Which I probably do.