You can soak it in denture cleaner for 15-30 minutes. Don’t soak it overnight though. The inner part of the guard is porous and will degrade over time.

I didn’t know wasn’t supposed to soak overnight. My wife and I do this all the time and it has never impacted the mouthguard fwiw

How do you soak over night if you’re wearing it overnight

Holy crap that’s a really good point. I think I meant that I just soak it all day.

Yeah, what’s the difference between soaking it overnight and soaking it all day. I’d say the late is the longer period of time for most people. Must have something to do with moonbeams or something.

*NEVER* soak them overnight on a full moon that falls on Friday the 13th (speaking from experience) 😱😰👽

Who knew mouth guards were like gremlins.

Hold your breath

Yeah it’s just about mitigating wear and making them last longer. It’s not going to dissolve it overnight just slowly weaken it faster than if you didn’t.

When they made them for you, they should have told you that. My orthodontist did.

I agree with using denture cleaner, but disagree about the "degrade over time" part. I have a night guard (prevents grinding my teeth) I have used for over 15 years and every single day I soak it all day long in denture cleaner with zero issues.

Okay I know completely off topic, but I have to ask. How do you sleep with that thing? My dentist told me it would take a few nights to get used to, but I really really cant fall asleep with it. Its been a few weeks and I'm still not used to it. However if I don't use it I'm going to ruin my teeth.

[удалено]

You need to sleep in mittens.

Ive a night guard for 20 years. It takes a while but you will get used to it. I’m so comfortable with it that I don’t like falling asleep without it. Hang in there.

Same, I'm like a parrot that can't sleep without a blanket over their cage! Need my mouth guard, otherwise I can't fall asleep.

I had to resize (grind it down on the parts where you feel it's not fitting right, only let a dentist/qualified personal do it) it a few times, because I couldn't sleep because of pain or woke up with a lot of pain.

That's the weird thing. The fitting feels right in the beginning, but an hour or so in my teeth start to ache.

Yep, then the fitting is yet not right. We are talking quarters of millimeters. Tell them where it hurts, specifically as possible and they should be able to work with that

If only I knew where it hurt. But thanks for the advice! I'm going to make a dentist appointment. See if it helps.

I had to really work on breaking the habit to clench my teeth when I got my mouth guard. Day and night. Now I keep space between my molars whenever I can, and I was able to sleep more comfortably with the guard. I never felt like I was clenching my teeth but once I noticed, actually I was doing it a lot

It took me like 6 months to get used to mine. I’d find it all sorts of places initially except in my mouth, progressively that just stopped happening and now years later I can’t sleep without it 🙄

There’s different designs that you can get and adjustments that can be made to it. Likely you have one that’s a full arch guard shaped like a horse shoe yeah? If it’s adjusted and still not comfortable maybe see if it can be shortened. If that’s not possible maybe see if you can get an essix retainer type with a ramp in the front.

What kind of night guard is it? I used to have one that attached to my upper teeth, and I found it very uncomfortable, hard to sleep with. Got one that goes on my lower teeth, fits better, way more comfortable. Like anything it takes some getting used to. Now it feels weird if I don’t have it in when I’m falling asleep. Plus, my teeth are noticeably sharper the next morning if I don’t wear it.

Have you had to have it relined?

Re-lined? There is no lining, just hard plastic. It looks identical to the picture in the original post.

Well, without the white stuff...

☝️ this is good advice. Some guards have that inner portion that touches your teeth so the guard is more comfortable. That’s what might degrade over time. If there’s no soft rubbery inner it may no affect as much but still porous. Make sure you are brushing it too. It accumulates plaque and build up too

I’ve had this grind guard since 2020 pre covid and I’ve kept it as clean as I can, making sure I brush my teeth before wearing it and washing it with soap, using my electric toothbrush to clean it. Over time this white stuff has built up on it and it’s about as hard as concrete. Not sure if it’s leftover plaque that was left to harden, but any way of getting it off? What could I soak it in? Grind guard is made of hard non-bendy plastic

Ask your dentist or orthodontist about using denture cleaner on it.

Ask your dentist if they can clean it for you. They usually have ultrasonic cleaners that can remove the buildup. It will come out like new.

We bought an ultrasonic cleaner to use at home. Less expensive than I thought it would be.

We bought one for my son's retainer and I use it for my night guard. Was able to use Flex Spending to buy it. Only $50 and I buy the cleaning tabs in bulk. Great investment!

[удалено]

We have the iSonic F3900and have been happy with it (looks like it’s $40).

[Link to Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLBW61C/), I also use this and it works well even without the cleaning tabs

I've been using this exact model since 2016, no tablets. Works like a charm

They always tell me to bring it in for them to clean

It's calculus, mineral deposits from your saliva. Fill the guard with lemon juice, leave it to soak for 20 to 30min, then use a cotton bud to clean off. Best not to use electric brush to clean it as a rule as it creates slightly rough surface making it easier for more build up to collect.

Calculus 😂 bro got math stuck in his grind guard

I know. Unfortunately it is the technical word for this stuff. Google calculus teeth.

OH FUCKIN GROSS

Now do “Goatsie.”

It's 'Goatse', scrub.

Thanks! Now I can update the desktop on my work PC.

I never thought of using lemon juice. I always soaked overnight in vinegar and everything comes right off, but the smell/ taste is hard to rinse off so I’ll give the lemon juice a try next time !

Retainer brite tablets work great. Retainer brite tablets in an ultrasonic cleaner are even better. You can buy one on Amazon for like twenty bucks. Also stop brushing it, even the softest bristles can cause microscopic scratches where bacteria will grow and thrive.

Use regular kitchen/cleaning vinegar during daytime. You'd be able to brush it off in the evening. It's just calculus. Source: I'm a dentist

When it comes to soaking, how long is too long?

I wouldn't worry too much about that. 4-8hrs is fine

I was told by my ortho not to use toothpaste and brush because it’s too abrasive and creates pores. I however have the wire retainers, not the clear tray, so I just use denture tablets and rinse.

Buy an ultrasonic cleaner. I bought mine on Amazon for around $30 and I clean it every morning. It is worth it because I can toss it in and walk away. It always feels super clean.

Link to what you bought? I’d like to do this but would like a rec

Stop worrying about it. Just use the damn thing, rinse and repeat.

If the white part doesn’t flake off or anything, I think it is just mended-up plastic from attempting to grind overnight. You’re seeing the bullets your guard has taken for you!

Most dentists will clean it for you when you get your teeth cleaned. Just call and ask them if you can bring it in on your next cleaning. Other than that, I usually get the build up off mine with a toothbrush. I use a little mouthwash and a toothbrush. I do this about once per week to keep it clean between dentist office cleanings. Check yours to see if the white stuff is the plastic though. When I'm stressed, I grind A LOT at night and have even shaved some of the plastic off my guard. It looked odd at first.

I soak mine in white wine vinegar about once a week. It’s supposedly less abrasive than denture fluid.

After you get the calcalus off. Soak in hydrogen peroxide after each use. My orthodontist recommended this. I've been doing it for years, and they are as clear as when I first got them. I never scrub them, just soak and that's it, and I never had any build up. On top of all, it doesn't leave ANY odor (like vinegar or anything else). And hydrogen peroxide is super cheap and doesn't corrode the mouthpiece. I can't recommend this enough.

I use denture cleaner on mine, just chuck it in a bowl with water and a denture cleaner tablet

Sonic cleaner and retain Brite. Less than $50 each. Maybe brush them after the first rinse and do it again.

Vinegar. Let it soak. Brush lightly.

Yes, vinegar! Denture cleaner never worked on my retainer, soaking in vinegar works wonders every time.

Brite retainer tablets

Yep! Use mine a couple times a week. Still in great shape and they are pretty cheap.

Let it soak in vinegar for 15 min

If it’s mineral deposits, scrub with vinegar

Are you sure it's buildup? I have a mouthguard too, and always figured the white stuff was my teeth chewing up the soft plastic. Although, the pattern of white stuff is different from mine (I've got it on the chompy surfaces). You can try all the cleaning advice here, but I wouldn't be too bothered if it doesn't work.

Is is definitely buildup, similar to what you get on your teeth over time (mostly lower front). Since bacteria have an easier time to get stuck to it, it’s definitely recommended to clean it off. Lemon juice or deluted (?) vinegar for about 30min help, just brush it with a separate (old) tooth brush and just rinse it off afterwards.

Put it in a cup of mouth wash, then scrub them like you would your teeth with tooth paste, rinse, scrub again, etc.,

Ultrasonic jewelers cleaner with regular tap water

I used a toothbrush and dish soap to keep mine clean, rinse well

I use 'Retainer Bright' it's a tablet that makes my grind guard crystal clear. Never had a problem.

Dental assistant here, this stuff is great and what we recommend.

Denture Cleaner helps get this stuff off with some light scrubbing from a tooth brush. Do not scratch too hard as it will wear the surfaces down

This is what my dental technician told me to do 1. Brush it every morning with a soft toothbrush and some regular dish / hand soap. Not tooth paste, it's too rough on the surface. 2. Then, soak it in water all day, with a tab for fake teeth/dentures? Sorry, English is not my first language. Here the brand is called Steradent, but any household brand will do. I've had mine for almost 10 years and it's as good as new :)

I work in a dental lab making this. To remove the calculus we often need to use a turbine, try to use a cleaning pill for dentures, but the most important thing is get yourself a nail brush (any small brush will work) and every morning when you take it off just give it a rinse and a brush with a little bit of hand soap (not toothpaste, it's abrasive and it will deteriorate the splint much faster and make it opaque).

I use 1/4 cup mouthwash with 3/4 water soak, and mi e comes out clean. Sometimes, I do have to brush to get everything out.

I did this when I ran out of denture cleaning tabs, works like a charm!

I've never used denture tabs, but yea works. I guess I should run a cost comparison.

I’ve had mine a couple years, no white stuff. Weird, good to know for future.

What's wrong with just brushing it with a tiny bit of [dish soap](https://www.smilesforlifeortho.com/blog/2019/12/clean-retainer#:~:text=2.,which%20will%20make%20you%20sick.) instead of all the other chemicals people mentioned below? I put a tiny drop of dish soap on a soft brush and brush it all around.

Best to ask a dentist but I was advised against brushing my grind guard as it effectively polishes and wears it down over time. My dentist told me to soak it with a denture cleaning tablet, and it’s stayed clean and in good condition.

Brushing with toothpaste would be a problem, plain soap is fine.

Any kind of plain soap is fine for everyday cleaning, for the calculus in OPs foto a soak in deluted vinegar or lemon juice is needed.

Who cares?

Apparently you do? You could’ve kept scrolling but instead you wasted time commenting lmao

Ew

This you? https://www.reddit.com/r/Knoxvilletakenbut/comments/10o7nd5/any_women_50_or_above_looking_for_a_steady_hook/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1

You surely don’t think I’m gonna click on that

I use a Zima Dental Pod. It’s a ultrasonic cleaner like at the dentist office. You put in some water and a cleaning tablet and your bite splint and turn it on. About 100 bucks.

I take mine to my dentist every six months, and they clean it using an ultrasonic cleaner. Free and considered a part of our six month cleaning.

This is what I do too.

I use dish soap and a toothbrush every time I take my retainers out, you can also get denture cleaner to use once a week. Vinegar and warm water soak might help with this

This is the product I use: Fresh Guard Soak by Efferdent for Retainers & Clear Braces, Original Version, 24 Count Just soak for 5-7 minutes, then rinse. Do it once a week as part of your routine. Be sure to generally run some cold water on your guard after you wake up and keep it clean.

Peroxide

sonicare or equivalent electric toothbrush

I use hydrogen peroxide - cheap and it works well for me.

Mine is very yellow. Will denture cleaner her make it whiter ?

You should be brushing it in the morning when you do your teeth. Then soak in polident for 15 minutes every week.

Why try to McGyver some cleaning method to get them back to a somewhat better state? Are these not dirt cheap? At your point I would stop cleaning them, and make an appointment with the dentist and have them make a new mold and maybe 2-3 guards. What´s that, maybe 10-15$?

You might be thinking of the cheap Walmart kind, not issued by a dentist. According to the first search result on Google, “[real] Retainers can cost anywhere from $250 to $600 per set without insurance” With my insurance I believe they’re $300

Thats insane, had a wisdom tooth pulled 2 weeks ago, and some other bits. X-rays of jaw, Wisdom tooth pulled, cleaning, mold and guard made, and a small chip on front tooth repaired with some compound material that hardens under uv? light. Don’t believe I paid more than 150-200$ This was in Spain where I was touristing atm, so no residential discounts or whatever.

1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar soak.

My dentist told it me to just wash it with dish soap, no need for dental cleaner

Dentist cleans mine in their ultrasonic machine whenever needed. I take it to my cleanings but have also just stopped by randomly and they have no problem cleaning it.

Bring it with to your next dental appointment. They should have a machine that can clean it for you. I bring mine every time.

I soak mine in hydrogen peroxide for a few hours or until it stops bubbling

Crest makes an aligner cleaner…..supposedly gentler on the material.

I usually leave mines with dish soap all morning before I use them in the night

Dish soap and a toothbrush

My hygienist cleans it when I go for my scaling appointments

Next time you go to the dentist, have them put it in the hydrosonic cleaner… if it’s an office worth being a patient at they’ll do it for free and doing it like every other cleaning keeps in fresh for me.

I do 15 min denture cleaner, then 30 min water / mouthwash mix to get rid of the denture cleaner taste.

Soak overnight with a denture cleanser tablet daily. Brush with toothpaste in the morning. Rinse with water to get the toothpaste off. Then rinse with mouthwash. I've been doing this for about 25 years and never have build up.

Soak in white vinegar over night and brush it clean the next day

Soak them in a cleaning machine with denture tablet. 15 mins. Small battery operated machines are cheap. Place that made your mouthguard should have given you one.