{"id":126,"date":"2021-01-30T23:13:27","date_gmt":"2021-01-30T23:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/?p=126"},"modified":"2021-02-04T23:17:54","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T23:17:54","slug":"cleaning-your-oral-appliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/30\/cleaning-your-oral-appliance\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Important Tips for Keeping Your Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Clean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Close-up<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Simply place your oral\nappliance<\/a> in your mouth every night, and you\u2019ll soon find yourself enjoying\nplenty of rest, letting you wake up each day with plenty of energy. However,\nit\u2019s important to remember that while it is in your mouth, it is exposed to\nfood particles, bacteria, and other potentially harmful substances. If you want\nto get a good night\u2019s rest without having to worry about the health of your\nmouth, it\u2019s important to give your appliance the care it deserves. Keep these 5\ntips in mind for cleaning your oral appliance on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Brush Your Teeth Before Wearing the Appliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you can\u2019t see them, bacteria, plaque, and bits of\nfood are all accumulating on your teeth throughout the day. Putting your\nappliance on your teeth without cleaning them first will trap these harmful\nsubstances. Furthermore, the damp and constricted space created by the oral\nappliance will encourage the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities and gum\ndisease. By brushing and flossing before your appliance goes in your mouth, you\ncan keep your teeth safe throughout the night and avoid potential oral health\nproblems later down the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Rinse and Dry Your Appliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To get rid of any food debris left on your oral appliance,\nit\u2019s important to gently rinse it off and dry it before use. Be sure not to use\nhot water to rinse it, as it could cause the material used to make the\nappliance to warp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Brush Your Appliance Each Morning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you brush your teeth after breakfast, make time to\nclean your oral appliance too. Use a soft bristled brush to clean it using a\nnon-abrasive antibacterial soap. Pay close attention to the different nooks and\ncrannies of your device, and be sure to clean every surface as thoroughly as\npossible, especially around the areas that can be adjusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Let It Air Dry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Instead of sticking your appliance in a dark environment\nthat would encourage bacteria and yeast to grow, put it back in its container\nand leave it open to air dry. This is ultimately the more hygienic option that\nhelps ensure that your appliance stays clean in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Soak It at Least Once a Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re regularly brushing your appliance, a small\namount of debris might start to build up on it despite your best efforts. You\ncan clean it more thoroughly by soaking it with a denture cleaner solution<\/a>\nat least once a week. The process should only take a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these quick and easy steps, you can help your oral\nappliance last for many years to come \u2013 all without compromising the health and\nsafety of your smile. Talk to your sleep dentist for additional advice on good\nappliance hygiene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mitch Conditt has firsthand experience using an oral\nappliance to overcome sleep apnea, and he has completed advanced training to be\nable to help other do the same. With 35 years of dental experience, he has\ndedicated his practice to the treatment of sleep apnea and TMJ disorders. If\nyou have a question about taking care of your oral appliance, get in touch with\nhim through his website<\/a>\nor by calling (817) 527-8500.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Simply place your oral appliance in your mouth every night, and you\u2019ll soon find yourself enjoying plenty of rest, letting you wake up each day with plenty of energy. However, it\u2019s important to remember that while it is in your mouth, it is exposed to food particles, bacteria, and other potentially harmful substances. If you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions\/128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}