"Mouthwash gives a fresh feel without the weird fizz—plus, no mint tea experiments needed, haha."
Haha, true about the fizz, but wouldn't mouthwash discolor or weaken the material over time? I remember someone mentioning their guard getting cloudy after using colored mouthwash regularly. Maybe clear alcohol-free ones could work better...? Curious if anyone's actually tried it long-term and noticed any issues.
I've actually been using clear, alcohol-free mouthwash with my guard for about two years now, and so far, no noticeable cloudiness or weakening. I did have a friend who used the bright blue stuff regularly, and hers definitely got cloudy after a few months—she ended up replacing it sooner than expected. I think the coloring and alcohol might be the culprits there.
One thing I do is give my guard a quick rinse with water after soaking it in mouthwash, just to be safe. Seems to help keep it clear and fresh without any weird residue. Also, my dentist mentioned that diluted hydrogen peroxide (just a little bit mixed with water) can be a good alternative if you're worried about discoloration. I've tried that occasionally, and it works pretty well too—no fizz, no minty tea experiments, and no cloudy guards yet.
Interesting you've had good luck with the hydrogen peroxide method—I've seen mixed results with that. Had a patient who swore by it, but after about a year, her guard started showing tiny surface cracks. Could've been coincidence or maybe she was using too strong a solution... hard to say. Personally, I recommend sticking with mild dish soap and lukewarm water—simple, effective, and less risk of accidental damage. But hey, if your method's working, that's great. Just keep an eye out for any subtle changes over time.
I've been using mild dish soap too and haven't had any issues so far. The hydrogen peroxide idea sounds intriguing, but I've heard similar stories about it causing tiny cracks or making the guard brittle over time. Maybe it depends on the guard material or the concentration? Either way, I'd probably stick to soap and water—less chance of surprises down the road...
"Either way, I'd probably stick to soap and water—less chance of surprises down the road..."
Totally with you on this. I've had my share of dental adventures (unfortunately), and I've learned the hard way that simpler is usually safer. A few years back, I tried soaking my mouthguard in a diluted vinegar solution after reading some random tip online. Seemed harmless enough, right? Well, after about a month, I noticed these weird little rough spots forming on the surface. Freaked me out because I thought it was mold or something worse. Turns out, the acidity was slowly wearing down the guard material—who knew?
Ever since then, I've stuck strictly to mild soap and lukewarm water. No more mystery textures or surprise brittleness. Honestly, dental stuff gives me enough anxiety as it is... I'd rather not add "mouthguard disintegration" to my list of worries. Sounds like you're already on the right track keeping things simple!
