Yeah, aggressive scrubbing with toothpaste can definitely speed up wear—been there, done that. Toothpaste is surprisingly abrasive, especially if you're using the whitening kind (which I learned the hard way). Mild soap and water is honestly the way to go. I've heard denture cleaner tablets work wonders too, but haven't tried them myself yet...might be worth a shot if you're feeling adventurous. Either way, gentle seems to win the race here.
"I've heard denture cleaner tablets work wonders too, but haven't tried them myself yet...might be worth a shot if you're feeling adventurous."
Haha, denture tablets? Are we cleaning mouthguards or grandma's teeth here? Seriously though, does anyone else's mouthguard start looking questionable after like 6 months, or is it just mine...?
Haha, I totally get the skepticism about denture tablets...I mean, it does sound a bit odd at first. But honestly, they're not as weird as you'd think. My dentist actually recommended them to me when I got my first mouthguard because I was super anxious about keeping it clean and bacteria-free. I was pretty hesitant at first (like, am I really gonna buy denture cleaner at my age?), but after doing some research, turns out they're pretty gentle and effective.
That said, I did notice that after about 5-6 months my mouthguard started looking a little cloudy and discolored too, even with regular cleaning. It freaked me out at first—I thought maybe I wasn't cleaning it right or something—but apparently that's pretty normal wear and tear from saliva and nightly use. Still, being the anxious type, I ended up asking my dentist again just to be sure. She reassured me that discoloration alone isn't necessarily a sign of bacteria or anything harmful, as long as you're cleaning it regularly.
One thing she did suggest though was occasionally soaking it in diluted white vinegar for about 15-20 minutes once a week or so. I've been doing that for a while now, and it seems to help keep things clearer longer. Plus it's cheap and easy—just rinse thoroughly afterward so you don't taste vinegar all night (trust me on this one...).
Anyway, if you're feeling unsure about denture tablets or just want another option to try out, vinegar might be worth considering. Either way, you're definitely not alone in noticing your mouthguard looking questionable after half a year or so...seems like it's just part of the deal with these things.
I've noticed the same thing with my son's mouthguard—it gets cloudy after a few months no matter how carefully we clean it. The vinegar tip sounds interesting, might give that a try. I'm curious though, does anyone find certain brands or materials hold up better over time? We've only tried one type so far, so maybe there's something more durable out there...
"I'm curious though, does anyone find certain brands or materials hold up better over time?"
We've had similar issues with my daughter's mouthguard turning cloudy, even with daily cleaning. Eventually, we switched from the standard clear plastic type to a custom-fit silicone one recommended by our dentist. Honestly, it's held up noticeably better—less cloudiness and easier to keep clean. A bit pricier initially, but considering how long it's lasted without discoloration or cracking, I'd say it's worth it in the long run...
