Mouthguards in Wilkes-Barre, PA

After having dental work, taking good care of your teeth or a dental appliance is vital. It isn’t difficult to take care of a custom mouth guard that a dentist makes to protect your teeth and mouth. Use these tips to keep your mouth guard clean and damage-free.

Keep in a Case

Most custom mouthguards come with a case to keep them in to protect them from dirt and damage. After you’ve used your mouth guard in a game or, in the morning, if you wear one to prevent grinding your teeth at night, rinse it off and dry it before putting it back in its case. If it is a sports mouth guard, transport it in its case to keep it from being scratched or ripped.

Cleaning the Mouth guard

You can rinse it with cool water to remove saliva from the mouth guard and then dry it with a soft cloth or let it air dry. After it’s dry, put it back in its vented case. Occasionally rinse the case as well to remove any dust and debris that gets on it.

Also, brush the mouth guard with a soft-bristled brush every couple of weeks or so to remove any germs from it. One of our dentist can show you which type of toothbrush and toothpaste or gel to use on it.

Do Regular Inspections

Remember to inspect the mouth guard about every month or so. The last thing that you want to happen is for it to sustain damage. A small tear in a mouth guard could be uncomfortable while you’re wearing it, so if it does sustain damage, contact one of our dentists at NEPA Dental Group to order a replacement.

How Long do Mouthguards Last?

While there isn’t a set time frame that a mouth guard lasts, they usually last a season or about six months. When you’re inspecting it, look to see if it’s losing its thickness. When a mouth guard gets thinner, it isn’t as effective in protecting your mouth or jaw as when it was new.

Protect your teeth from injury by having your dentist make you a custom mouth guard.