"My dentist also mentioned that soaking it in denture cleaner occasionally helps keep it fresh and extends its lifespan."
That's a solid tip! Denture cleaner tablets are great because they break down bacteria and stains without damaging the material. Just make sure you rinse it thoroughly afterward—trust me, denture cleaner taste isn't exactly minty fresh, lol. Also, avoid hot water when cleaning your mouthguard; heat can warp it and shorten its lifespan. Lukewarm or cool water is best. Mine usually lasts around 1-2 years with proper care, but everyone's mileage varies depending on grinding intensity and cleaning habits...
Mine usually lasts about a year, but honestly, I'm always paranoid about bacteria buildup. I tried the denture cleaner trick once, and it worked great, but I got distracted and left it soaking overnight... woke up panicking that I'd ruined it. Thankfully, it was fine, but now I'm extra cautious—set a timer and everything. Definitely agree on avoiding hot water though; warped mine slightly once and learned that lesson the hard way.
Haha, the denture cleaner panic is real—I did the same thing once and woke up convinced I'd melted mine into oblivion. Luckily, mouthguards are tougher than we think. Usually, with proper care (and no boiling water mishaps), mine lasts around 1-2 years.
Haha, glad I'm not the only one who's had a mini freak-out over mouthguard care. I remember once, after a particularly rough night of teeth grinding, I thought I'd give mine a "deep clean" by soaking it in some random mouthwash I had lying around. Big mistake. Woke up to find it tinted a lovely shade of blue-green... took me a good week of brushing and rinsing to get rid of the minty aftertaste. Lesson learned: stick to the recommended cleaning methods.
Mine usually holds up pretty well for about 2 years, but honestly, by the end of that second year, it's looking pretty rough. Even with careful cleaning, it starts feeling a little less snug and comfortable. I've found that replacing it around the 18-month mark feels about right—keeps things fresh and comfortable without pushing my luck too far.
I've definitely had mine last around two years too, but honestly, after about a year and a half it starts feeling less secure and kinda worn out. Have you tried denture cleaning tablets? They're gentle, effective, and no surprise minty-green stains... learned that the hard way myself.
