Dirty Mouthguards
- Ken Mitchell
- Sep 18, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 4
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Most athletes that wear mouthguards don't spend the necessary time or may be completely unaware that mouthguards should be cleaned after every use. Exposure and risks associated with ignoring your mouthguard and not cleaning it properly are unknown and even disregarded by a vast majority of athletes. When you think of a sports injury or anything that could keep you from competing in your next game, you probably think of injuries such as cuts, sprains, broken bones, torn ligaments or even concussions. What you may not know is that your mouthguard could keep you from playing in your next event. If your like most athletes that use mouthguards, you will just throw your mouthguard in your athletic bag or mouthguard case and forget about it until the next practice or game. I know, I know, your sore, exhausted, and just plain worn out after your game or practice, but what your about to read will change your mind about cleaning and caring for your mouthguard. If you spend $1 or even $500 on your mouthguard, proper cleaning and care of your mouthguard applies to all mouthguards and may be one of the most important things you do to stay on the field.
Mouthguards don't really require a whole lot of time to clean. Ensuring that your mouthguard is clean will keep you healthy and may help your mouthguard last longer. But, if you neglect your mouthguard and fail to give it a few minutes of your time after every use, bacteria, yeast, mold and fungi could develop on your mouthguard. Mouthguards might look solid or dense but in fact they are very porous, which allows microorganisms to invade the holes. The germs that are found in mouthguards that aren't properly cleaned can lead to strep and staph infections as well as asthma-like symptoms. A "chewed up" mouthguard will harbor even more germs while at the same time making it harder to clean or disinfect. These types of infections can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Believe it or not, your mouth is full of bacteria. There are more than 500 known different species of bacteria that live in the mouth. A dirty mouthguard can not only make you sick but it may also contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and in extreme cases, tooth loss.
According to a study published by American General Dentistry (AGD), mouthguards can be the breeding ground for threatening bacteria, yeast and mold. "These concerns are similar to using an infected toothbrush repeatedly or using silverware that has not been cleaned properly," says (AGD) spokesperson Bruce Burton, DMD, MAGD, ABGD. "Although a mouthguard is recommended to prevent damage to the mouth and teeth, we know it also has the potential to be a reservoir for bacteria that can cause gum infection s or the bacteria that helps promote tooth decay".
Richard T. Glass, DDS, professor of Forensic Sciences, Pathology and Dental Medicine at Oklahoma State University, has studied mouthguards worn by American football players extensively. Dr. Glass wears gloves and a mask when he studies the germs found in mouthguards. Dr. Glass performed microbial analysis of 62 Division 1 football players and divided them into four groups. Group A practiced but did not play in games. Group B practiced and played in games. Players in group A and B wore the same mouthguards the whole season. Group C players wore their mouthguards for practices and games but then switched them half way through the season. Group D players wore their mouthguards for practices and games and switched them half way through the season and placed them in a sanitizing solution after each practice and each game. Dr. Glass's study found substantial microbial contamination in mouthguards with use. Of the 62 players that participated in the study, 81 mouthguards were surrendered for for microbial analysis. Changing the mouthguards half way through the season helped but not a lot. Soaking the mouthguards in an antimicrobial solution between uses significantly reduced the numbers of microorganisms. Dr. Glass also suggests replacing a mouthguard every two weeks, especially if it becomes distorted or develops sharp, jagged edges which really isn't feasible for most athletes.If the mouthguard has sharp, jagged edges, the mouthguard could scrape against your cheeks, gums and tongue, allowing the germs to enter the athletes body or nervous system. Dr. Glass stress's that even though mouthguards harbor germs they are still an important piece of safety equipment for contact sports and by no means should the value of a mouthguard be discounted.
Mouthguards are exposed, when handling with your hands, to whatever you touch, on and off the field. The best preventative measure during competition would be to wash your hands with antibacterial gel or if your wearing gloves, remove your gloves before removing your mouthguard from your mouth. RECOMMENDED ANTIBACTERIAL GEL. Try not to remove your mouthguard when you come off the field unless you clean your hands with the antibacterial gel first. A possible solution to handling your mouthguard with your hands could be a "strapped" mouthguard.When removing the mouthguard from your mouth you can grab it by the strap. Another solution could be a "revolutionary" mouthguard made by SISU. As stated on the SISU website, "Unlike conventional mouthguards, SISU guards have been scientifically tested to carry no bacteria. The perforations allow for better flow of saliva and prevent bacteria pooling in the mouthguard." Even with the SISU claim, I would still clean and disinfect the mouthguard regularly to be 100% sure.
Now that I have your attention, the good news is that there are some things you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick.
Suggested article, 6 WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR MOUTHGUARD
THE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE HAVE BEEN PREPARED OR ASSEMBLED BY THE MOUTHGUARD REVIEW AND ARE INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADVICE FROM A LICENSED HEALTH-CAR PROFESSIONAL. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS CONTENT, AND THE MOUTHGUARD REVIEW ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR INACCURACIES. ALWAYS READ LABELS AND DIRECTIONS BEFORE USING A PRODUCT. SOME OF THE INFORMATION MAY BE DATED AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE MOST CURRENT EVENTS. I WROTE THIS ARTICLE MYSELF AND IT EXPRESSES MY OWN OPINIONS.
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