Cleaning the bite splint: The best tips against deposits

The prosthesis-like splint made of plastic is intended to counteract excessive and incorrect strain in order to protect the teeth and jaws – in most cases the grinding itself cannot be remedied as it is often triggered by stress. Therefore, it is purely a treatment of the symptoms, but not the cause. The material and dental costs for a normal bite splint are covered by the health insurance company. In addition, those affected have the option of having their customized dental arch replaced with a new model every one to two years (depending on their insurance). For example, when the splint has literally been chewed through. However, if stubborn deposits are visible on it, a replacement is not absolutely necessary. Instead, you can use the following tips if you want to clean your bite splint.

If you wear your bite splint every night, visible residue is inevitable. In addition, they provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. To counteract slight discoloration, the plastic should be cleaned regularly – ideally every day. All you need is your toothbrush and a mild toothpaste that, if possible, does not contain any abrasive particles (as they could damage the splint). Then clean the material under running water. If the deposits are particularly stubborn, you will have to resort to stronger (home) remedies.

Unfortunately, commercially available denture cleaners (for example from the Kukident brand) are not suitable for cleaning a bite splint as they would attack the material in the long term. Instead, there are now special ones with active oxygen. They are intended to remove the deposits and bacteria that adhere to the surfaces of the plastic. Alternatively, you can also use so-called use.

Extra tip: In fact, mild hand soap is also said to be an effective remedy against deposits. Apply this to the rail with an old (clean) toothbrush, scrub all corners and edges clean and rinse the material again under warm water.

If you don’t like the methods already mentioned, there are tried and tested home remedies that you can use to clean the bite splint: acetic or citric acid (also as available). Dilute this with a little water (in a ratio of 1:5) and soak the anti-grinding aid in it for ten to 15 minutes – depending on the hardness of the deposits. Then wash the splint thoroughly under running water to remove any remaining acid. The material should then dry well before you put it in a suitable place store.

Extra tip: If the bite splint emits an unpleasant odor even though there are hardly any deposits visible, you can soak it in a chamomile or herbal bath for a few minutes. This does not remove any discoloration, but it does neutralize the odor.