I've actually used toothpaste on mine for years without any noticeable issues. Maybe it depends on the type or brand of toothpaste? Or possibly how hard you're scrubbing...I tend to go pretty gentle, so that might be why mine holds up fine.
I've been wondering about this too, actually. My dentist told me toothpaste can be abrasive and might wear down the material faster, but then again, you've been fine for years, so maybe it's not such a big deal? I usually just rinse mine with water because I'm paranoid about damaging it, lol. Maybe I'm being overly cautious...but hey, mouthguards aren't exactly cheap, so better safe than sorry I guess.
I've had mine for about three years now, and I brush it lightly with toothpaste maybe once a week—no noticeable wear yet. I get the caution though, since toothpaste can be abrasive. Honestly, rinsing with water is probably fine most of the time. My dentist suggested soaking it occasionally in denture cleaner tablets to keep it fresh without scrubbing too much. Seems to work well for me so far...
"My dentist suggested soaking it occasionally in denture cleaner tablets to keep it fresh without scrubbing too much."
I've seen patients have good results with denture tablets too, but personally, I prefer just rinsing thoroughly and occasionally using a mild soap solution. Toothpaste can be abrasive, especially if you're brushing weekly—even gently—so it's great you haven't noticed wear yet. Mine lasted about four years using this method before it started showing noticeable thinning. Everyone's mileage varies though...depends on grinding intensity and material quality.
I've heard good things about denture tablets too, but haven't tried them yet. We've been using mild soap and warm water for my son's mouthguard, and it's held up pretty well so far—almost two years now. But he's getting older and grinding harder lately, so I wonder if we'll start noticing quicker wear soon. It's reassuring to hear yours lasted four years though...guess we'll see! Maybe I'll give the tablets a shot sometime, just to compare.
