Maintaining Mouth Guards: Crucial for Oral Health

Why Mouth Guard Upkeep is Vital for a Healthy Mouth

Children and adults alike turn to the protection of mouth guards to keep their smile intact during sports and athletic activities. Just as important as it is to wear a mouth guard, it is also important to maintain it and keep it clean – proper cleaning is important for both your mouth and your teeth! A recently completed study by the General Dentistry found that the mouth guards of football and ice hockey players had a very large number of bacteria, molds, and yeasts that can cause illness and even infection.

This is especially true for those individuals who are using mouth guards that are worn out and have rough edges – these sharp edges can cut or cause abrasions on the gums and inside the mouth, which can allow the bacteria on the mouth guard to enter the gums, potentially causing serious problems. Scientists have also theorized that the onset of exercise-induced asthma can also be related to the use of mouth guards that are not properly and efficiently cleaned and/or maintained.

Care Tips for Your Mouth Guard

Professionals at the American Dental Association have these recommendations for cleaning and maintaining a mouth guard:

• Clean mouth guards with cold, soapy water, making sure to rinse well after cleaning.
• Before and after using a mouth guard, make sure to rinse it with cool water or with a mouth rinse.
• Mouth guards can be easily cleaned using a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Store mouth guards in a perforated, firm container when not in use or when transporting. This allows air circulation and also prevents damage.
• Avoid exposing mouth guards to high temperatures, such as hot surfaces, hot water, or direct sunlight to help prevent discoloration.

When to Replace Your Mouth Guard

Like many other pieces of sports equipment, there will likely come a time when a mouth guard wears out and is no longer effective. Should the mouth guard have any tears, holes, or has become loose to the point where it no longer fits securely in the mouth, it can easily irritate the teeth and gums and also cause other oral issues. Make sure to check the condition of your mouth guard on a regular basis to determine when it needs to be replaced – when it doubt, replace it! Your mouth will thank you!

If you or a family member has questions about mouth guard maintenance or is due for a visit, you can sign up for a New Hampshire Discount Dental Plan and save as much as 20 percent on all your dental bills. For more information, please click here.

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