Anti-crunch help
Cleaning the occlusal splint: effective means against deposits
Over time, deposits become visible on splints and braces
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Headache and jaw pain are often the result of (nocturnal) gnashing of teeth. To alleviate the discomfort, more and more dentists prescribe a so-called bite splint. Due to regular wearing, these can change color over time – unsightly deposits become visible.
The prosthesis – like splint made of plastic is intended to counteract overloading and incorrect loads in order to protect teeth and jaws – the crunch itself cannot be eliminated in most cases, as it is often triggered by stress. Therefore, it is a pure treatment of the symptoms, but not the cause. The material and dental costs for an ordinary occlusal splint are covered by the health insurance. In addition, those affected have the option of having the dental arch tailored to them replaced with a new model every one to two years (depending on their insurance). For example, when the rail has been chewed through in the truest sense of the word. If, on the other hand, stubborn deposits become visible on it, a replacement is not absolutely necessary. Instead, you can apply the following tips if you want to clean your bite splint.
That’s why it’s important to clean the bite splint
If you wear your bite splint every night, visible residue is inevitable. In addition, these provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. To counteract slight discoloration, the plastic should be cleaned regularly-preferably every day. For this you need nothing more than your toothbrush and a mild toothpaste, which if possible does not contain abrasives (as they could damage the splint). Then clean the material under running water. If the deposits are particularly persistent, they must resort to stronger (home)means.
Cleaning the occlusal splint: tips against deposits
Commercially available denture cleaners (for example from the Kukident brand) are unfortunately not suitable for cleaning a bite splint, as they would attack the material in the long term. Instead, there are now special Cleaning rods for splints with active oxygen. They are intended to eliminate the deposits and bacteria adhering to the surfaces of the plastic. Alternatively, you can also use so-called Bite Rail Cleaner Sets use.
Extra Tip: In fact, even mild hand soap is said to be an effective remedy for deposits. Apply to the rail with an old (clean) toothbrush, scrub all corners and edges clean and rinse the material again under warm water.
Effective home remedies for occlusal splints
If the methods already mentioned do not suit you, there are still time – tested home remedies that you can use to clean the bite splint: acetic or citric acid (also called Cleaning powder available). Dilute them with a little water (in a ratio of 1:5) and soak the anti-crunch aid in it for ten to 15 minutes-depending on the degree of hardness of the deposits. Then wash the splint thoroughly under running water to remove any remnants of the acid. After that, the material should dry well before placing it in a suitable Box store.
Extra Tip: If the bite splint spreads an unpleasant odor, although hardly any deposits are visible, you can put them in a chamomile or herbal bath for a few minutes. This does not remove any discoloration, but neutralizes the odor formation.
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