Discusses the cleaning and brushing of sleep apnea dental devices as well as whether denture cleaners and tooth grinding shorten the usable life of oral appliances
If you use a dental mouthpiece to prevent sleep apnea symptoms, it's vital that you understand how to care for the appliance. Proper cleaning and brushing of an oral appliance extends its lifespan. Besides, if you're serious about treating sleep apnea you'll be wearing the mouthpiece every night: it makes good hygienic sense to keep the dental device as clean as possible.
Read Mouthpiece Cleaning Instructions
Your sleep physician should instruct you in proper cleaning and brushing of your sleep apnea mouthpiece. Even so, don't neglect to read any cleaning instructions that come with your dental device. Different styles of oral appliance have slightly different cleaning requirements. If cleaning instructions don't match what your sleep physician advised, ask him or her for clarification.
Brushing Tips for Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces
Brushing the mouthpiece with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush is a standard cleaning method for almost all sleep apnea dental appliances. The mouthpiece should receive a thorough brushing inside and out every morning with cool water.
While brushing an oral appliance, you want to pay special attention to any small areas of the mouthpiece. Nooks and other small areas can trap unwanted material in the mouthpiece, so it is especially important they receive a good cleaning.
Oral Safe and other Denture Cleaning Solutions
Dentists sometimes recommend using denture cleaning solutions such as Oral Safe to clean sleep apnea devices. Oral Safe and other denture cleaning solutions aren't a substitute for daily brushing with toothpaste, but they do help you keep your oral appliance as clean as possible. Some sleep apnea mouthpiece users also soak their appliance once very two weeks in a 50/50 solution of mouthwash and water.
Check with your sleep physician or dentist before cleaning your dental device with either denture cleaners or mouthwash. Either product can erode the plastic in many sleep apnea devices faster than cleaning with brushing alone. If your dentist or physician okays the use of denture cleaners or mouthwash / water solutions it might be worth shortening the device's lifespan for a cleaner mouthpiece, but please check first.
Dental Device Mouthpieces
Different sleep apnea mouthpieces have very different life spans. Depending on the model and how well you care for your appliance, a dental device can last as long as six years or need replacing in as little as six months. To some extent, you get what you pay for; a cheap, mass produced oral device usually won't last as long as a more expensive device that is custom-made for you mouth.
Bruxism (Tooth Grinding) and Oral Appliances
Teeth grinding really takes a toll on most dental devices. People who have bruxism (the medical term for teeth grinding) in combination with sleep apnea symptoms will need to replace their oral appliances frequently. Severe tooth grinding can also reduce the efficiency of an oral device. People who have severe bruxism and sleep apnea may find alternative sleep apnea treatments more effective.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
Resources
Demko, B. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions (about sleep apnea oral appliances).
Talk about Sleep. (n.d.) Cleaning a Dental Appliance.
