The dental professionals from C.R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry in Lorain, OH, encourage all of their athletic patients who play contact sports to wear dental guards at all times. Athletic mouth guards can protect your teeth from serious damage during gameplay, but it’s important to care properly for your athletic mouth guard so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for bacteria like staph and strep.

According to C.R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry, following these four simple tips can help ensure your athletic dental guard is wearable and functional all season long:

• Pre-game The Right Way: Before you wear your mouth guard for a game or practice, brush and rinse your teeth so that the bacteria in your mouth doesn’t spread to your mouth guard. When you take your guard out after a game, brush and rinse your teeth again.
• Regular Cleaning: According to the family dentists, you should wash your athletic mouth guard (and its case) with soapy water after every use. It’s also imperative that you dry it completely before storing it.
• Careful Storage: Never store a damp mouth guard! Keep your storage container clean at all times and make sure it has good ventilation.
• No Chewing: Many athletes absentmindedly gnaw on their athletic mouth guards during tense moments of gameplay. Unfortunately, this creates tiny tears and holes in the mouth guard, which can become breeding grounds for hidden bacteria.

For more advice on proper oral hygiene or on specific brands of athletic mouth guards, schedule an appointment at C.R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry. You can call the dentist office at (440) 960-5200 or visit them online for more information.