I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've had a few mouthguards over the years, and honestly, mine never seem to make it past 6 months without getting pretty gross. I don't even grind that hard (at least I don't think I do?), but they still end up looking yellowish and feeling kinda slimy no matter how well I clean them. I've tried soaking tablets, special brushes, even vinegar solutions... nothing really helps once it hits that point.
I did splurge on a dentist-made one once, thinking it'd last longer, but honestly, it didn't seem worth the extra money for me. Sure, it felt a bit sturdier at first, but after about 8 months it was just as worn down and funky as the cheaper ones. Now I just stick to mid-range ones online—at least then I don't feel guilty tossing them out when they start feeling sketchy. Like you said, it's in your mouth all night... better safe than sorry.
I've had pretty similar experiences with mouthguards, honestly. Mine usually last around 6-9 months before they start feeling kinda gross, even with regular cleaning. One thing my dentist mentioned was that bacteria can build up in tiny scratches or grooves over time, which makes them feel slimy no matter how well you clean them. She suggested replacing them every 6 months or so anyway, just to be safe.
I did notice a slight improvement when I started rinsing mine with cold water first thing in the morning instead of hot—apparently hot water can warp the plastic slightly and make it easier for bacteria to settle in. Might be worth a shot if you haven't tried that yet. But yeah, overall I agree—mid-range ones seem like the best compromise between cost and quality.
Interesting point about the cold water rinse—I hadn't thought of that before. I've always just used warm water thinking it'd help clean better, but now that you mention it, mine do warp a bit after a while. I'll definitely give cold water a shot and see if it helps.
For my kid's mouthguard, we've had similar issues with bacteria buildup making it feel slimy or gross after just a few months, even with regular brushing and soaking. Honestly, I think the lifespan depends heavily on how rough someone is on them too. My son tends to chew or grind his pretty aggressively at night, so ours rarely last beyond 5-6 months max before they start looking worn down or cracked.
We tried going for the pricier custom-made ones from our dentist once, thinking they'd last longer—but honestly, they didn't hold up much better than the mid-range ones we buy online. Felt like kind of a waste of money to me. Maybe if you're someone who's gentler on your mouthguard they'd be worth it, but for us...mid-range is definitely the sweet spot.
One thing I've been wondering though—does anyone have experience using those UV sanitizers specifically designed for mouthguards? I've seen them advertised online and I'm curious if they're actually effective at extending the life of the guard or reducing bacteria buildup. Seems like it could be helpful in theory, but I'm skeptical about whether it's worth spending extra money on yet another gadget...
Honestly, I think the lifespan depends heavily on how rough someone is on them too. My son tends to chew or grind his pretty aggressively at night, so ours rarely last beyond 5-6 months max before ...
I tried one of those UV sanitizers for my mouthguard last year. Honestly, it seemed to help with that slimy feeling you mentioned, but I didn't notice any difference in durability. Still cracked around the 6-month mark...might depend on your usage though.
I've had similar experiences with mine—usually lasts around 6-8 months tops. My dentist suggested soaking it in denture cleaner tablets once or twice a week to keep it fresh and reduce buildup. Doesn't really help durability-wise, but definitely cuts down on that slimy feeling you mentioned. Might be worth a shot if the UV sanitizer isn't quite doing the trick...
