Sleep apnea is a condition that robs millions of people of their sleep every night—but fortunately, solutions such as oral appliances exist to combat this sleep disruption and get you back to catching z’s. That said, if you’ve recently begun wearing an oral appliance to help with your sleep apnea, you might have some questions about keeping it sanitary and uncompromised. Here are five simple steps from your dentist that will go a long way towards keeping your oral appliance as clean as a whistle.
#1. Brush Your Teeth Before Wearing Your Appliance
It’s crucial that you brush your teeth before wearing your appliance at night. If you skip brushing, all of the leftover food particles, plaque, and bacteria on your teeth will become trapped between them and your oral appliance for the entire night. This wet and cramped environment is ideal for bacteria to breed, which can drastically increase your risk for cavities and oral infections.
#2. Don’t Forget to Rinse
In addition to brushing your teeth before wearing your appliance, it’s very helpful to rinse and dry your appliance every time before putting it in. This helps to wash away any excess food debris that’s left on it, so it isn’t transferred to your teeth.
#3. Brush Your Appliance Every Morning
Brushing your teeth every morning is an important part of any oral hygiene routine, but if you have an oral appliance, you should brush it as well! Use a soft-bristled brush with toothpaste, ultrasonic cleaner, or a clear antibacterial soap to give your appliance a thorough cleaning. Keeping your appliance clean discourages the growth of bacteria and also keeps it from developing an unpleasant odor.
#4. Let It Breathe
After you’ve brushed your oral appliance, you should put it in its container and leave it open to air dry. Immediately putting your appliance in a closed environment makes bacteria more likely to grow on it! Also be sure to keep your storage case just as clean as your device.
#5. Soak It Often
You should also soak your appliance about once a week using a denture cleaning tablet. These solutions provide a level of cleaning that your brush can’t achieve on its own, meaning that it’s paramount towards keeping your appliance sanitary. Fill your appliance’s container with water, put the appliance in, drop in the tablet, and let it soak for a few minutes before dumping the water and letting your appliance dry.
It doesn’t take much effort to keep your oral appliance clean and following these five steps makes the task even easier. Doing so will ensure that your device continues to assist you with your sleep apnea without spawning any other oral health problems.
About the Practice
Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry is proud to serve the dental needs of patients and families in the Ponte Vedra Beach community under the leadership of Dr. Kristopher Harth and Dr. Eric Townsend. Together they combine several years of experience in a variety of fields to provide patients with an elite level of dental care. Their practice is pleased to offer many available services including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. If you have any questions about your oral appliance or need to schedule a visit, feel free to reach out online or by phone: (904) 285-7711.