Mine usually lasts around two years, but I totally feel you on the mouthwash disaster—been there myself. Denture tablets actually worked pretty well for me, though I still like giving it a quick scrub with a toothbrush to avoid any weird residue. Honestly, I've found the dentist-made ones worth the splurge. My last boil-and-bite barely survived six months before looking like a dog's chew toy... not exactly cost-effective in the long run.
Two years is pretty impressive, honestly. My dentist-made one lasted about a year and a half before it started looking like something you'd find under the couch cushions. I tried the boil-and-bite route once too—big mistake. It felt like chewing on a hockey puck, and after just three months, it had more teeth marks than actual mouthguard left. Denture tablets sound interesting though; I've been using regular toothpaste and a toothbrush, but now I'm wondering if that's why mine always ends up cloudy and weirdly minty. Might have to give your method a shot next time around. Glad I'm not the only one who's had mouthwash mishaps... nothing like waking up to a neon-blue mouthguard that tastes suspiciously medicinal.
"I tried the boil-and-bite route once too—big mistake. It felt like chewing on a hockey puck..."
Haha, been there, done that. My boil-and-bite experience was more like gnaw-and-regret. I swear, after a couple months, mine looked like it had been through a war zone—teeth marks everywhere, edges frayed, and somehow it managed to taste permanently minty yet stale at the same time.
Denture tablets are definitely worth a shot. I switched to them after my dentist gently scolded me for scrubbing my custom guard with toothpaste (apparently that's a no-no?). Now mine stays clearer and doesn't have that weird toothpaste residue anymore. Plus, no more surprise medicinal mouthwash flavors in the morning... neon-blue mouthguards are definitely not the vibe I'm going for.
Two years is impressive though—mine usually taps out around the 18-month mark too. Maybe I'm just grinding extra aggressively in my sleep or something...
I feel your pain on the boil-and-bite front. Mine lasted maybe six months tops before it started looking like a dog toy—chewed edges, weird discoloration, the works. I finally bit the bullet (pun intended) and got a custom one from my dentist. It was pricier upfront, but honestly, it's held up way better—going on two years now and still going strong. Sometimes spending a bit more initially saves money in the long run... at least that's what I keep telling myself.
Interesting you mention discoloration—I noticed the same thing with my son's boil-and-bite guard. After about four months, it started turning this weird yellowish shade, even though we cleaned it religiously every day. I figured it was normal wear and tear, but your comment makes me wonder if that's common or if it depends on the brand or material?
We haven't gone for the custom dentist-made one yet because he's still growing, and I'm worried he'll outgrow it too quickly to justify the cost. Did your dentist mention anything about how growth spurts affect the fit of custom mouthguards for younger patients? I'd hate to invest in something pricey only for him to need a new one in six months anyway.
Also curious—do you find there's a noticeable comfort difference between the boil-and-bite and custom ones? My son complains now and then about his being uncomfortable or bulky, so I'm wondering if a custom guard might help him sleep better overall.
It's tough balancing cost versus quality, especially when kids are involved and things change so fast...
