3 Reasons To Clean Your Teeth Before Wearing An Oral Appliance

Oral appliances, such as retainers, night guards, or sleep apnea devices, play an important role in protecting your teeth, maintaining alignment, and promoting overall oral health. However, to maximize the effectiveness of these devices you need to clean your teeth.  Luckily, you can easily find an oral appliance cleaner from an online or brick and mortar store. Here are four key reasons to clean your teeth before wearing an oral appliance.

1. Prevents Bacterial Growth and Reduces the Risk of Infections

Your mouth naturally contains millions of bacteria, some of which can be harmful when left unchecked. Throughout the day, plaque builds up on your teeth and gums. If you don’t clean your teeth before wearing an oral appliance, these bacteria become trapped between the appliance and your teeth. This creates an environment where bacteria can thrive, increasing your risk of infections such as gingivitis or even more serious gum diseases like periodontitis.

When you place an oral appliance over unclean teeth, the saliva that normally helps wash away food particles and bacteria becomes less effective. Bacteria can quickly multiply in the moist, enclosed space between your teeth and the appliance, leading to an increase in plaque buildup. This can lead to gum irritation, swelling, and even infections that might require professional dental treatment. Simply brushing and flossing before wearing your appliance can eliminate a large amount of the harmful bacteria in your mouth.

2. Prolongs the Lifespan of Your Oral Appliance

Your oral appliance is an investment in your dental health, and like any investment, it requires proper care to function well over time. Failing to clean your teeth before using the appliance can shorten its lifespan. When plaque and food particles are left on your teeth, they can transfer onto the appliance, leading to staining, odor, and buildup of harmful bacteria.

Many oral appliances, especially those made from plastic or acrylic materials, are porous to some extent. This means that they can absorb bacteria and odors, especially if exposed to dirty teeth. These bacteria can weaken the material of the appliance, causing it to degrade faster than expected. Not only will this lead to the need for costly replacements, but it also compromises the effectiveness of the device in protecting your teeth or managing conditions like sleep apnea or teeth grinding.Cleaning your teeth before wearing your appliance ensures that fewer bacteria and particles come into contact with it, keeping the appliance cleaner for longer.

3. Prevents Bad Breath and Unpleasant Odors

Bad breath, or halitosis, is often caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth, especially when food particles are left behind after eating. Wearing an oral appliance over dirty teeth can exacerbate the problem, trapping food particles and bacteria in close proximity to your gums and tongue. As these bacteria break down food, they release sulfur compounds that are responsible for bad breath.

If you don’t clean your teeth before wearing an oral appliance, the odor can quickly become noticeable, not just to others but to yourself as well. Many people who wear oral appliances report that their devices develop an unpleasant smell over time. This odor is often the result of bacteria thriving in an unclean environment, which is easily avoidable by brushing and flossing before wearing the appliance. Take a few minutes to thoroughly clean your teeth before putting in your appliance. This way, you’ll reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth that contribute to bad breath.

The Bottom Line

Cleaning your teeth before wearing an oral appliance is a simple yet critical step that should never be skipped. The next time you’re about to slip in your retainer or night guard, take a moment to clean your teeth, you’ll be doing yourself and your oral appliance a favor.