Caring For Your Protector

CARING FOR YOUR MOUTH PROTECTOR

Like any other sports gear, mouth protectors can wear out, become lost or deteriorate over time. There are several precautions you can take however, to make your mouthguard last a long time.

Before inserting the mouth protector for the first time each day, you can increase its comfort by rinsing the protector with cold water or with mouthrinse.

After each use, rinse the mough protector under cold tap water. Occassionally it can be cleaned in cool, soapy water and then rinsed thoroughly, or a mouthguard disinfectant can be applied to it. The mouthguard should be placed in a firm, perforated container during storage or transport to permit air circulation and to avoid damage.

Check the condition of the mouth protector from time to time to see if it needs replacement. Tears, perforations, and loose linings can irrate the teeth and mouth tissues; these conditions also diminish the amount of protection the mouth guard can provide on the playing field. Players who have infected teeth or mouth tissues should not wear a mouth protector until their oral condition has been treated and their health improves. All players should be sure to visit the dentist before each playing season to have their oral health checked and any problems corrected.