I used to use diluted mouthwash too, figuring it'd keep things minty fresh, y'know? But then a couple months ago, my kid's dentist casually mentioned something similar—that alcohol-based rinses might slowly degrade the material. Kinda threw me off because I'd been doing it for ages without thinking twice about it.
Funny enough, my son is on his second mouthguard already this year. The first one somehow ended up chewed beyond recognition—he swears he didn't do it intentionally, but I'm skeptical...kids and their mysterious chewing habits, right? Anyway, dentist laughed it off and said it's pretty common with younger patients who tend to grind or chew subconsciously. We switched to cleaning with gentle soap and water after that incident, just in case the mouthwash was weakening it and making it easier to chew up.
But now I'm curious how sturdy these things really are supposed to be. His current guard seems fine after several months, but he's also being extra careful now (probably because he knows I'll make him pay for the next one out of his allowance if he destroys it again). Is durability mostly affected by cleaning methods like mouthwash, or does it have more to do with personal habits like grinding or chewing? Or maybe even the type of guard you get—custom vs. off-the-shelf?
Makes me wonder if there's a noticeable difference between brands or types in terms of lifespan. Like, are people getting years out of theirs, or is replacing them regularly just part of the deal?
Honestly, I doubt mouthwash alone makes that big of a difference. I've always cleaned mine with mouthwash (full-strength even) and it lasted almost two years. Probably more about grinding habits or maybe the quality of the guard itself...
Yeah, I think you're probably right about the grinding habits. My kiddo's guard barely lasted a year, and I was cleaning it religiously. Maybe it's just luck or genetics or something... who knows? Anyway, two years sounds pretty good to me.
We've had similar experiences here. My daughter grinds pretty heavily, and her first mouthguard barely made it past the 8-month mark—even with regular cleaning and care. I asked our dentist about it, and she explained that durability really depends on a few things: the material of the guard itself, how intense the grinding is, and even how well it fits. Apparently, if the guard isn't fitting perfectly snug, it can wear down quicker because of uneven pressure points.
We switched to a custom-made one last year, and it's holding up way better—almost at the two-year point now, fingers crossed. It was pricier upfront, but honestly, considering how quickly we were replacing the cheaper ones, it's probably saving us money in the long run. Plus, fewer dentist visits means less whining from my kiddo... and from me too, haha.
So yeah, two years sounds pretty solid to me as well. If you're consistently getting around that lifespan, you're probably doing something right—or your kid's grinding habits aren't as intense as some others out there. Either way, I'd call that a win.
Two years is definitely a solid lifespan for a mouthguard, especially if your daughter grinds heavily. My experience has been pretty similar. I've struggled with teeth grinding for years, and initially, I went through a couple of cheaper mouthguards pretty quickly—probably around 6-9 months each. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong with the cleaning or storage, but my dentist reassured me it was just the intensity of my grinding wearing them down.
Eventually, I made the switch to a custom-fit guard as well. Like you said, the upfront cost was a bit intimidating at first, but looking back now, it was completely worth it. Mine's been going strong for about two and a half years now, and it's still in good shape. The snug fit really does make all the difference—my dentist explained that when the guard fits properly, it distributes pressure more evenly and reduces wear in specific spots.
Honestly, I'm glad you mentioned fewer dentist visits as a bonus too... that's definitely been true for me! Not having to constantly schedule appointments to replace worn-out guards has been a relief—not just financially but mentally too.
Also, don't underestimate the peace of mind factor. Knowing that your daughter's teeth are protected from further damage can really ease some of that parental worry (I remember how stressed my own parents were when I first started grinding). It sounds like you're doing everything right by investing in quality and fit upfront.
Anyway, two years is great—you're clearly on the right track. Hope your daughter's current guard continues to hold up well!
