Do you use a mouth guard when you play certain sports, proud to know that it could protect you from several different dental hazards? When you are done with your game, does it just get thrown into your gym bag? Maybe it’s in a case, maybe not. If this sounds like a habit you have, doing so could let fungi, bacteria or yeast form on your guard. In other words, you could have avoided some of the obvious dangers but may still be vulnerable to a new one. Cleaning and maintaining this piece of safety equipment is not too complicated, and we want to help you know how to do it.
Rinsing your mouth guard with water isn’t good enough to clean it. Even though it might appear clean, you should remember that germs and bacteria may require microscopes to be seen. Dr. Ron Hernandez recommends for you to brush your mouth guard regularly with toothpaste and then you can give it a rinse in soapy water. Our dentist also recommends that you brush your teeth before and after wearing it.
When not in use, your mouth guard should be kept in its protective case and it should be ventilated until it has dried to help prevent bacteria growth. Cleaning the case should also be done regularly. You may want to consider replacing your mouth guard if it has pits or cracks as bacteria can begin to grow in them.
If you would like to know more about mouth guards in Fremont, California, or if you want a consultation at Ron Hernandez, DDS, please contact us at 510-248-4847. We would be happy to help you protect your dental health.