Your oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea has just been sent to you. Before putting the appliance in your mouth, always give it a quick warm-up under warm water. It's likely that you will first find the item uncomfortable when it's put in your mouth. During the initial weeks of use, saliva production will increase before gradually decreasing. 

Some patients may have brief gagging or difficulty swallowing, however, these symptoms are not long-lasting. There may be some mild tooth or muscle ache after wearing the mouth appliance all night. Many people require up to 45 minutes before they can regularly touch their teeth together.

Please get in touch with our office right away if your symptoms worsen. Be careful not to leave the appliance in a location where a pet could access it. Dogs love them as chew toys, and medical insurance does not pay for the replacement of the item. On a hot day, never leave it in a car, and never fly with it in your luggage.

Keeping your sleep apnea mouthguard clean and maintained on a daily basis might help it last longer. After that, we'll discuss weekly upkeep. Oral appliance for sleep apnea typically ages and becomes discolored over time. But adhering to some simple cleaning procedures can help keep your equipment in good condition, and odor-free, and prevent the harmful oral effects of bacteria (cavities, bad breath, etc.).

For the best cleaning and storage advice for your particular mouthpiece for sleep apnea always see your dental sleep apnea dentist. Oral snoring and sleep apnea mouthguards come in over 100 different varieties.

Regular Cleaning Advice

With these daily apnea dental appliance cleaning tips, you are largely secure. Most of the 100 devices in existence would probably adhere to these daily recommendations. These are the only advice you need for many of the denser varieties, leaving out the weekly cleaning.

STEP 1: Floss and brush your teeth

Make sure to brush and floss your teeth before inserting your oral gadget. Also, remember to brush your tongue!

Your gadget may quickly become covered in leftover plaque, which will eventually solidify. When this occurs, "movable parts" can stiffen and risk breaking. The most crucial advice for extending the life of your oral appliance sleep device is to keep it clear of hard buildup.

By not brushing, plaque and bacteria may become trapped on your teeth and under your mouthguard. In turn, infections and cavities may become more likely.

Before going to bed, some patients prefer to rinse with mouthwash. normally acceptable. Just keep in mind to rinse thoroughly and refrain from soaking your oral appliance in mouthwash. Additionally, mouthwashes with alcohol should be avoided.

STEP 2: After removing your dental appliance, the next step is to brush it every day.

When you take off your sleep apnea mouthpiece in the morning, it's time to clean it. You will require a SOFT denture or toothbrush.

Use a toothbrush or denture brush with soft bristles. If you're just starting, moderate liquid detergent like hand soap or dishwashing soap is advised. Clean all the device's edges and nooks, including any advancing mechanism that might be present.

These could be bars, straps, or tubes. The best water is that which is warm or at room temperature. The use of hot water should be avoided. Following cleaning, rinse with water and shake off any remaining moisture.

On your sleep appliance, avoid using toothpaste. Toothpaste can be too abrasive for some gadgets, leaving small scratches that can serve as the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria and detritus.

STEP 3: Soak or let it air dry

Depending on the device you were given, you could have been told to shake off any extra water after cleaning it while leaving the lid open to let it air dry. 

It is important to keep your gadget's enclosed storage container dry to prevent moisture buildup on the device. Because of this, bacteria may flourish, and your gadget may begin to smell.

In order to keep such equipment, clean between uses, you could have been instructed to soak them in clean water. 

Depending on the gadget you have, you may want to let it dry naturally between usage rather than storing it in clean water. It is preferable to consult your referring dentist if you can't recall.

Step 4: Clean the storage containers.

To help avoid odor and bacterial growth, remember to regularly clean your storage box.

Take the items from your device at least once a week. Rinse, then thoroughly dry with a paper towel or hand towel after cleaning the interior with soap and water.

Whenever possible, avoid keeping any adjustment tools in the device container, even if they are included. Eventually, they will corrode and rust.

What alternative therapies are available for TMJ?

Your healthcare practitioner may advise the following if conventional therapies don't work:

electrical stimulation of the transcutaneous nerve (TENS). By relaxing the muscles in your jaw joint and face, this therapy uses low-level electrical currents to alleviate pain. TENS treatments can be carried out at home or the office of your doctor.

Ultrasound. For the purpose of easing pain or enhancing joint movement, the TMJ receives this deep heat treatment.

A trigger-point injection. To treat painful facial muscles known as "trigger points," anesthetic or painkiller injections are used.

the use of radio waves. Low-level electrical stimulation with radio waves causes the joint to swell, relieving TMJ symptoms by boosting blood flow.

Botulism Toxin Both muscle mass and inflammation are decreased by these injections.

STEP 5: Have your device inspected yearly by a sleep dentist.

sanitizing medical equipment

You should visit your sleep apnea dentist at least once a year, as recommended by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and myself.

Your device can be examined for proper advancement, general wear, and any patient adverse effects, which can then be treated or avoided. Early detection and repair are preferred for small device fractures.

Weekly Cleaning Advice

The following advice will assist you in navigating this deeper weekly cycle if your dental sleep specialist has advised a weekly cleaning tablet.

STEP 1: Select a cleaning product

When you first got your gadget, your dentist might have recommended the best cleaning product.

STEP 2: Soak for no more than ten minutes.

No matter which cleanser you use, don't soak more than 10 minutes once a week.

STEP 3: Scrub the device's whole exterior.

After soaking, use a soft toothbrush or denture brush to thoroughly clean the edges and crevices of your device, exactly like you would while brushing your teeth every day. Make sure to rinse the cleanser with warm or room-temperature water before storing it in the case as directed. Never use hot or boiling water.

Step 4: Submerge or allow oral appliances to air dry after storage.

Just like we discussed in the guidelines for daily brushing, make sure to confirm with your sleep apnea dentist how to preserve your oral sleep device while not in use.

Your dental appliance needs to be cleaned and cared for just like you would your teeth and mouth. You'll have a spotlessly clean dental device thanks to the combination of the aforementioned advice and the special care instructions our dentist for sleep apnea Oakdale can go over for your sleep apnea dental device.