4 Tips for Cleaning Your Oral Appliance

When suffering from sleep apnea, you want to make sure that you get the sleep you need. But part of undergoing successful treatment means keeping your oral appliance in good condition. If damage or problems arise, this can negatively impact your treatment, worsening your symptoms and causing further issues down the road. If you want to make sure that you’re cleaning your oral appliance thoroughly and keeping your mouth healthy, here are four tips to consider.  

Clean Your Appliance Each Morning

After cleaning your teeth, spend some time taking care of your device. You don’t need special or expensive products to do this. Instead, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush, toothpaste or clear soap, and lukewarm water. By giving your oral appliance a good scrub, you eliminate harmful bacteria that accumulate overnight. It also helps to ensure a more pleasant smell, as these are known to develop a strong odor if you don’t properly care for them.

Allow It to Air Dry

After rinsing it, make sure to let it air dry. Placing it in a closed container or a drawer will only encourage bacteria to build. It needs to remain out in the open to avoid the potential for yeast or bacterial accumulations.

Let It Soak

While you do not need to do this every day, it is also important to remember that you should let your oral appliance soak. You can do this once each week using a denture cleaner. This will help to get into the areas of the device that cannot be reached with a toothbrush. Because bacteria can easily burrow into small crevices, a thorough soak for a few minutes will ensure that you continue to wear a clean appliance that functions properly and comfortably.

Keep Your Teeth Clean

Ensuring a clean appliance means taking proper care of your pearly whites. If you have bacteria or harmful particles residing on your teeth, there is a high probability that they will transfer to your device, causing problems to arise. Make sure before inserting the appliance that you brush for two full minutes. This will lower your risk of dental decay and cavities as well as oral infections.

It may seem like a daunting task but taking care of your oral appliance takes only a few minutes of your time each day. Keeping these tips in mind will help you to stay on track with your sleep apnea treatment in Albuquerque so that you can rest better and breathe easier.

About the Author
Dr. Kinnari Jariwala is a trusted craniofacial sleep medicine expert who earned her dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. After completing many hours of continuing education, focusing primarily on sleep and TMJ medicine, she leads the team at Center for Dental Sleep Medicine & TMJ of New Mexico. Working with patients to identify problem areas that keep them from getting the sleep they need, she offers oral appliance therapy to improve symptoms and allow for a better quality of life. If you are looking for ways to ensure successful sleep apnea treatment, visit our website or call (505) 433-2107.