Interesting to see the vinegar tip mentioned—I actually recommend that to patients quite often. It's gentle, effective, and doesn't leave behind any residue or taste. Personally, I used to rely on those tablets myself, but after noticing the lingering chemical flavor (which was pretty unpleasant), I switched to a mild soap and water routine as well. The difference was noticeable almost immediately, and my mouthguard felt fresher overall.
One thing I'd add from experience: make sure you rinse thoroughly after using dish soap. Even mild soaps can sometimes leave a subtle taste if you're not careful. Learned that the hard way one sleepy morning... not exactly refreshing. Glad to see others finding simpler solutions that work just as well or better.
"Personally, I used to rely on those tablets myself, but after noticing the lingering chemical flavor (which was pretty unpleasant), I switched to a mild soap and water routine as well."
Glad someone else mentioned this—I thought it was just me being overly sensitive to taste! I've tried those cleaning tablets before, mostly because they seemed convenient and were heavily advertised at my dentist's office. But honestly, the chemical aftertaste was a deal-breaker. Not only did it linger on my mouthguard, but it also felt like it transferred to my mouth overnight. Not exactly the fresh start I was hoping for in the morning.
I've since switched to using diluted white vinegar as well, and it's been a game-changer. Affordable, effective, and no weird aftertaste. Plus, as someone who's pretty budget-conscious, it's nice knowing I'm not spending extra money on specialty products that don't really offer any additional benefit.
I appreciate your caution about dish soap residue too. I've had a similar experience—thought I'd save myself some time by quickly rinsing with soap before bed, only to wake up with an unexpected soapy flavor in my mouth. Definitely not pleasant... lesson learned.
It's reassuring to see others finding simple, cost-effective solutions that genuinely work. Sometimes the simplest methods really are the best ones.
Glad to see I'm not alone in noticing that chemical aftertaste. I gave those tablets a fair shot too, mostly because my dentist recommended them, but the lingering taste was just too off-putting. I even tried rinsing extra thoroughly afterward, but it didn't seem to help much.
I've actually found success with baking soda and water—just a gentle scrub every few days. It's mild enough not to damage the mouthguard, and it neutralizes odors pretty effectively. Plus, it's something I always have around the house anyway, so no extra trips to the store.
Funny you mentioned dish soap residue—I made that mistake once when traveling and forgot my usual cleaning supplies. Thought a quick rinse with hotel soap would do the trick... woke up regretting that decision pretty quickly. Lesson definitely learned there.
It's nice seeing others experimenting with simple household solutions rather than relying on specialty products. Sometimes the basics really do work best.
"Funny you mentioned dish soap residue—I made that mistake once when traveling..."
Been there myself, unfortunately. I switched to diluted white vinegar recently—works great and no weird aftertaste. Glad baking soda's working for you though, might give that a try sometime too.
I've run into the dish soap issue myself... definitely not a pleasant surprise. Vinegar sounds like a solid idea, though personally I found it left a bit of a tangy aftertaste, even diluted. Might just be me being sensitive, who knows. Baking soda's been pretty reliable so far—neutral taste and seems to keep things fresh. One thing I've noticed though, is that if you don't rinse thoroughly enough, it can leave a gritty texture behind. Learned that the hard way one sleepy morning. Anyway, glad we're all figuring out our mouthguard cleaning routines—it's oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in these little mishaps!
