"mine's starting to feel a little less snug lately, even though I've been careful with cleaning and storage."
Yeah, that's pretty typical around this timeframe. Even if you're super careful, mouthguards naturally lose their snugness over time—it's just the nature of the material. Have you noticed any extra wear or thinning spots on yours? Sometimes grinding or clenching can speed up that process without us realizing it.
Also, do you ever rinse it with hot water? A lot of people don't realize warm or hot water can slightly warp the shape over time. I had a patient once who was super diligent about cleaning but used hot water regularly... ended up needing a replacement way sooner than expected.
Anyway, might be worth having your dentist take a quick look next visit to see if it's still doing its job properly. Better safe than sorry when it comes to protecting those pearly whites!
Hmm, not sure I'd say it's always typical. I've had mine for almost two years now and it's still fitting pretty snug.
Interesting point though—I usually stick to cold water, maybe that's why mine's lasted longer?"warm or hot water can slightly warp the shape over time"
Mine usually lasts about a year, but I gotta admit, I'm guilty of rinsing it in hot water sometimes—oops. Maybe that's why mine ends up looking like a chewed-up gummy bear after a while... lesson learned, cold water it is.
Mine usually makes it about a year and a half, but honestly, I'm always paranoid about damaging it. I once accidentally left mine soaking in mouthwash overnight—thought I was being extra hygienic—and woke up to find it weirdly cloudy and brittle. Had to replace it way sooner than planned, and those things aren't cheap... Now I just stick to cold water and mild soap, lesson learned the hard way.
I feel you on the paranoia—I once rinsed mine with hot water thinking it'd sanitize better, and it warped so badly it wouldn't even fit anymore. Now I'm super cautious about temperature. Has anyone else had theirs warp from heat, or was mine just extra sensitive?
