If you or your family member are being treated with orthodontics or for temporomandibular disorder (TMD), we may have suggested the use of an oral appliance as part of your treatment. Once braces come off, a retainer is usually worn to keep the new position of teeth in place. For some TMD patients, we recommend the use of a nightguard to relieve symptoms. For some of our younger patients who play sports, they might even be wearing a mouth guard to protect their teeth during games. Oral appliances such as these play an important part in maintaining and protecting oral health. Here’s how you can care for them:
Follow these basic care guidelines to keep your oral appliance in peak condition:
- Take time in the morning or after use to clean your mouthguard using your toothbrush and toothpaste. Gently and thoroughly brush the appliance and rinse with water. Bacteria will have accumulated on the appliance overnight and you will want to remove it so it doesn’t build up over time.
- Leave the appliance to dry before you put it back in the case or keep it in a safe place until use.
- As you clean, check for cracks or uneven wear. If you do find an issue like this please let us know as we will want to address it right away.
If you notice that your oral appliance doesn’t fit correctly or feels different than you are used to, please let us know so we can determine if it is broken or there is some other issue. We wouldn’t want you to continue to wear an ill-fitting appliance.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any dental health questions or concerns. Until we see you again, have a great day!