Not gonna lie, I’m definitely more on the cautious side when it comes to these things. Stainless steel is pretty solid, but I’ve seen a few too many “harmless” looking tools turn into little petri dishes over time, especially if they don’t get dried out properly. Even just a bit of moisture can let bacteria hang around longer than you’d think. Maybe I’m just a bit paranoid after seeing some funky stuff people bring into the office—like, one guy’s scraper legit had a greenish tint. Not ideal.
I do agree that keeping it out of the shower is huge—humidity does not do those things any favors. But I actually give mine a quick rub with some isopropyl alcohol every week or so, just for peace of mind. It doesn’t take long and I figure, why not? Probably overkill for most folks, but hey... better safe than sorry, right?
I totally get the paranoia—after seeing what can grow on retainers if you slack off, I’m not taking any chances with my tongue scraper either. I keep mine on a little towel so it actually dries, and yeah, I’ve done the alcohol wipe thing too. Not sure if it’s overkill or just basic self-preservation at this point. Stainless steel’s great, but if it starts looking “science-y,” that’s a no from me.
I get the impulse to go full-on disinfectant mode, but honestly, I’ve started thinking a little differently about all the sanitizing. I used to do the alcohol wipe thing every single time (paranoid after seeing some truly gnarly buildup on my old mouthguard), but it actually dried out my tongue scraper and made these weird spots appear—almost like it was getting MORE “science-y” from the cleaning than the use. Now, I just rinse it super well with hot water, dry it off, and let it air out somewhere it’s not touching anything else.
I know everyone’s got their own comfort level, but for me, all those extra steps just ended up stressing me out more. If something looks off or starts to smell funky, I replace it. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just feeding our anxiety with all the wiping and towel-drying. Maybe basic rinsing and letting things dry is enough most of the time… unless you’re sharing a bathroom with a bunch of people or have pets that get curious, then all bets are off.
