Your oral sleep appliance can be a huge asset for your overall health and daily quality of life. But it will only serve you well if you take good care of it! Otherwise, it may incur damage that shortens its lifespan. One thing you must do is keep it clean. How can you do that? This blog post contains some easy tips.
Clean Your Mouth
It is important that you brush and floss your teeth, as well as clean your tongue, before placing your oral appliance in your mouth each night. Why is this step so critical? Throughout the day, plaque and bacteria can collect on your oral tissues. If you do not clean them, the plaque can transfer to your oral appliance. Eventually, it might harden. Not only can this look unpleasant, but it could even prevent the adjustable parts of your device from working properly.
Clean Your Appliance Every Morning
Every morning as part of your oral hygiene routine, you should rinse your appliance and clean it with a soft brush (either a toothbrush or a denture brush). Gently scrub all its surfaces, and use a mild cleaning agent. Usually, toothpaste is too abrasive for these devices, so you can ask your care provider for recommendations on which products to use. Also, keep in mind that you should not expose your appliance to hot water; the high temperature might warp your device and cause it to become unusable!
Then, you should air dry your appliance so moisture does not collect on it and create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. (Some devices should be stored in clean water between uses, but most should be air dried.) Once your appliance is dry, place it in its storage case.
Periodically Soak Your Appliance
Some devices can be deep-cleaned by soaking them in a special cleansing solution. These solutions can help to kill lingering bacteria and clean all the nooks and crannies of your appliance. Check online for products that are specifically designed for cleaning oral appliances. You can also ask your care provider for recommendations.
Keep Your Storage Container Clean
Once a week or so, you should clean the storage container where you keep your oral appliance. Simply wash it with warm water and mild soap, then allow it to dry thoroughly before you use it again. Some storage containers are even dishwasher safe! If you ever need to replace your storage container, they are easy to find on online retail sites, including Amazon.
Cleaning your oral sleep appliance is easy! Be sure to follow recommendations from your care provider and the device’s manufacturer so you can keep it in good shape for the long haul.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Brandon Brunner is a dentist with nearly 20 years of experience. He specializes in providing custom devices to treat sleep apnea and TMJ disorder (TMD). If you have questions about these treatments, or you would like personalized tips on how to care for your oral appliance, our team is ready to serve you. Contact The TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Wisconsin at 414-966-7639.