Two years sounds amazing—mine usually start looking rough around the one-year mark. I tried soaking mine in diluted mouthwash, but it ended up discoloring faster...maybe denture cleaner tablets are gentler? Has anyone else had luck with other cleaning methods?
Two years definitely sounds impressive to me too. Mine's barely hitting the one-year mark and it's already looking pretty questionable... I totally get the anxiety about discoloration, though—I tried soaking mine in diluted vinegar once after reading some random tip online, and it ended up looking cloudy and weirdly textured. Not my best idea, lol.
I've heard denture tablets are gentler, but honestly, I've been too nervous to try them myself. My dentist recommended just using a soft toothbrush and mild soap, and that's been okay-ish so far. It doesn't feel super clean, but at least it hasn't damaged anything yet. Maybe I'll get brave enough to try the tablets eventually, but for now, I'm sticking with the safe route. You're definitely not alone in worrying about this stuff... mouthguards aren't cheap, and messing one up feels like such a waste.
"I tried soaking mine in diluted vinegar once after reading some random tip online, and it ended up looking cloudy and weirdly textured."
Yikes, I did the vinegar thing too—same cloudy disaster. Denture tablets actually worked great for me though...no weird textures or anything. Might be worth a cautious try sometime?
I had the same vinegar mishap—my mouthguard looked like frosted glass afterward, lol. Denture tablets are pretty reliable, but I've found that just gentle brushing with mild soap and lukewarm water works fine too. Less chance of surprise textures or weird cloudiness. Mine usually lasts about a year and a half before it starts feeling kinda loose or worn down...depends on how much grinding I'm doing at night, I guess.
I've had similar experiences with vinegar—definitely learned that lesson the hard way, haha. Mild soap and lukewarm water has been my go-to as well, keeps things simple and avoids surprises. Mine usually lasts around two years, but yeah, stress levels and grinding intensity definitely play a role. If you notice yours wearing down quicker, might be worth checking in with your dentist to see if adjustments could help it last longer.
