Choosing to start sleep apnea treatment can be one of the most empowering decisions you will ever make. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, a snore guard can alleviate some of the main symptoms. Namely, you will snore less. But you need to know how to clean a sleep apnea mouth guard.
Importance of Keeping a Snore Guard Clean
We have some news for you: your mouth is a nasty place. But do not take this personally. The same applies to every person on the planet. The mouth alone houses an average of 6 billion bacteria, including 700 individual species of microbes. There are nearly as many bacteria in your mouth alone as there are humans on the entire planet.
With such an active microbiome in the mouth, you will want to keep your snore guard clean. Otherwise, your snore guard can acquire buildup from all those microorganisms. When it does, it can negatively impact your oral health and give off an odor. Every day you go without cleaning your mouth guard, the worse its condition will become. If you take the time to clean your sleep apnea mouth guard, you will avoid:
- Unpleasant odors
- Discomfort from an improper fit
- Risk of bacterial infection
- Rapid wear on your appliance
How Often Should I Clean My Mouth Guard?
You should clean your sleep apnea mouth guard every day. Just like on your teeth, bacteria will start to build up on your mouth guard if you skip cleaning even a single day. We know it can take some effort to build up this habit. But your mouth will thank you for it.
We recommend you incorporate cleaning your mouth guard into your daily routine. Try completing several hygiene habits together in the morning. For example, most patients can start a habit of cleaning their snore guard while brushing or flossing in the morning with relative ease.
Additionally, you will want to give your snore guard a deep clean about once per week. Below, we will break down what to do for both daily and deep cleanings.
How to Clean a Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard
Caring for your mouth guard will involve both daily cleanings and weekly deep cleanings.
Daily Cleaning
You will need to clean your snore guard each morning after using it. Luckily, daily cleanings should take only about a minute or two.
- Rinse: Start by rinsing your snore guard thoroughly with cool water. Avoid overly hot water. About 20 to 30 seconds is a good average for this step.
- Brush: Once you have rinsed off any buildup, you should then use a toothbrush to clean the entire surface. Specifically, use a soft toothbrush to avoid abrasions. Another half minute of brushing should be enough to remove any stubborn buildup.
- Inspect: Take a moment to look over your snore guard. If you see any visible buildup remaining, take the extra time to remove it.
Weekly Cleaning
Depending on your mouth’s environment and your daily habits, this weekly cleaning might actually only need to happen once a month. Your dentist will have the final say, though. They will recommend a deep cleaning schedule based on your oral health.
However, whether you do it once a week or once per month, the process remains the same. Take your snore guard and soak it for 30 minutes in one of the following:
- Denture cleaner
- Cleaning vinegar + hydrogen peroxide
After 30 minutes, take out your snore guard and rinse it off. Let it air dry before placing it back in its case. If you are doing one cleaning per month, you can repeat the soaking step for a more thorough deep clean. Consider setting a timer to ensure you do not forget about your snore guard. Leaving it in a cleaner for more than an hour might damage the material.
Additional Tip: Clean Your Snore Guard Case
After cleaning your snore guard, you will want to store it in its case. However, some bacteria will inevitably survive your daily cleanings. Over time, they might turn your snore guard case into a smelly, nasty environment. We recommend cleaning your case with a good rinse and brush about once a month. Before closing it, let it air dry. Damp, dark environments are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, after all.
Start Breathing Better Tonight
Visit a qualified sleep doctor to start building a sleep apnea treatment plan. Contact Sleep MD to begin working with one of New York’s top sleep specialists.
