"They're actually pretty effective at killing germs and might help you stretch your mouthguard's lifespan safely."
That's reassuring to hear...I've been stressing about my son's mouthguard lately. He grinds his teeth pretty badly, and I always worry about bacteria buildup causing issues. Never thought about denture tablets though—might give that a shot. And yeah, yoga stretches sound great in theory, but I'm with you...I'd probably be up half the night worrying if he's comfortable or not. Glad I'm not alone in this!
"Never thought about denture tablets though—might give that a shot."
Glad someone brought this up! Denture tablets are honestly underrated heroes when it comes to mouthguard care. They're super convenient, and they do a fantastic job at killing off bacteria without damaging the material. I've seen people stretch their mouthguard lifespan by months just by using them regularly.
One thing I'd add is to keep an eye on how worn down the guard gets from grinding. Even if it's squeaky clean, once it starts thinning out or showing deep grooves, it's probably time for a replacement. I know they're not exactly cheap, but protecting teeth from grinding damage saves you way more in the long run (trust me, dental bills get ugly fast).
And yeah, yoga stretches might work wonders for flexibility, but mouthguards? Probably not so much... unless you're aiming for a midnight panic attack about comfort levels. Been there myself, haha.
Denture tablets really helped me too, but honestly, I'm always paranoid about mine wearing out. Last time I waited too long, woke up chewing tiny pieces of plastic...not a fun morning. Now I check obsessively for cracks. Better safe than sorry, right?
"Now I check obsessively for cracks. Better safe than sorry, right?"
I totally get the caution, especially after waking up chewing plastic—yikes, that's rough. But you know, sometimes checking obsessively might actually lead to unnecessary stress or even cause you to replace it too soon. I've had mouthguards last a solid two years, and I only checked them maybe once every couple weeks or so. My dentist mentioned that minor surface wear or tiny scratches don't necessarily mean it's time for a replacement—it's more about deeper cracks or noticeable thinning in pressure areas.
Maybe instead of frequent checks, you could set a regular schedule—like monthly—to inspect carefully under good lighting. That way, you're being proactive without the daily anxiety. Just an idea, though... everyone has their own comfort level with these things.
Yeah, monthly checks sound pretty reasonable. I used to stress about every tiny scratch too, but my dentist reassured me that minor wear is normal. Mine usually lasts around 18 months before it really needs replacing... everyone's mileage varies though.
