Mouth guards, night guards, and retainers are very helpful dental appliances, but unfortunately, many people neglect these items which can lead to dirty/damaged appliances or costly replacements. Mouthguards protect your teeth, so why shouldn’t you protect it from damage and harm? Caring for these items is important and easy to do. Here are a few retainer, night guard, and mouthguard cleaning tips:

Use an antibacterial solution.

While even water is better than nothing, don’t just give the mouthguard a quick rinse and think that is enough. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure it is clean and germ-free. Make sure to properly rinse before inserting in the mouth to avoid the soapy taste.

Thoroughly clean your mouthguard at least once a month.

At least once a month, it is crucial to deep clean a mouthguard. While many people think that using a toothbrush and toothpaste for a mouthguard makes sense since it kills germs, the scrubbing motion of a toothbrush on a mouthguard can lead to the plastic being broken down and shortening the life of the mouthguard. Denture cleaner is gentler and very effective. The effervescent quality works to get into small spaces better where bacteria love to thrive.

Clean your case.

We are guilty of sometimes putting our mouthguard back in its case without cleaning it, but that can lead to bacteria staying in the case and making an unhealthy environment to store your dental appliance. The case can be more aggressively cleaned than the actual mouthguard, so grab an old toothbrush, and some hot water an antibacterial soap like Guard Health and scrub it clean!

Replace your mouthguard, when needed.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes mouthguards need to be replaced. Pay close attention to the point when any cracks start to become large. They can cut the cheeks or trap bacteria easily and spread infection.

Most dentists do not advise consumption of candies as part of a daily diet because of the detrimental effect of sugars on the teeth. There are, however, benefits to chocolate being included in a person’s diet. Based on validated longitudinal studies, a daily consumption of chocolate may actually improve cognitive function of your brain and overall health of your teeth. A caveat though—all chocolate is not created equal.

What Makes One Chocolate Different from Another

There are three common types of chocolate; dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. Cocoa solids have the greatest benefits to overall health, but only dark chocolate and milk chocolate contain the solids which may improve health. White chocolates only contain cocoa fats and sugar, so have no proven nutritional value. Milk chocolate, while it does include cocoa solids, only contains approximately 10% solids and has a significantly higher sugar content than dark chocolate.

Benefits of Chocolate

The benefits of dark chocolate come from its increased cocoa solid content. The polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in cocoa are considered antioxidants and are where cocoa’s health benefits lie. These chemicals contained in the cocoa solids help to discourage overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth and neutralize the organisms found naturally in the mouth that lead to the breakdown of enamel and tooth decay.

There are different percentages of cocoa content, so it is important to be aware that the more solids chocolate contains, the less sugar it contains as well. Most dentists advise 70% cocoa solid content to achieve the greatest benefit to health and the less sugar it contains, the better. Some dark chocolate bars contain up to 99% cocoa solids.

When it comes to oral health, chocolate still isn’t everything and isn’t a replacement for an oral health regimen. It is important to continue regular yearly dentist examinations and daily brushing and flossing. Your healthy teeth are our pride and joy!