Do I have to clean my bite splint?
As a rule, the patient should wear the bite splint only during the night. In particularly severe cases, however, wearing the splint during the day can be useful to relieve the symptoms as soon as possible. Careful cleaning of the occlusal splint is of utmost importance to prevent the spread of germs.
How often do I have to clean the bite splint?
In general, cleaning the bite splint with a toothbrush and toothpaste after each use is completely sufficient. This cleaning can be done as part of normal oral hygiene. In fixed intervals (at least every two days) a more extensive splint hygiene should take place, because otherwise it can come to firm deposits and discolouration of the plastic.
How do I clean my bite splint properly?
These signs of wear can be removed by placing the bite splint in a standard denture cleaning solution and then completely removing it with a toothbrush. The ordinary cleaning tablet contains active oxygen (O2), which eliminates bacteria adhering to the surface of the bite splint. In this way, an optimal cleaning result can be achieved and the bite splint can be kept hygienically clean for a long time.
For use, the cleaning tablet must be placed in a glass of water and dissolved. Afterwards the patient puts the rinsed occlusal splint into the solution and lets a contact time of about ten to fifteen minutes pass. The exposure time indicated on the packaging of the cleaning agent should be strictly adhered to and neither exceeded nor undercut.
If the occlusal splint is forgotten in the solution bath and left there for hours, unsightly discoloration or damage to the acrylic can result. Afterwards the occlusal splint has to be rinsed thoroughly with lukewarm, clear water. Since some cleaning tablets cause a pungent taste, the occlusal splint can also be cleaned again with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
In addition, special cleaning foam for the care of plastic bite splints can be purchased in health food stores. This foam is also excellent for removing discolouration, deposits and bacteria from the plastic surface. The cleaning foam is to be used like an ordinary toothpaste.
Applied to the toothbrush, the foam can be used to thoroughly clean the dental appliance. Afterwards it is recommended to rinse with lukewarm, clear water. Severe discolouration of the acrylic can be avoided by avoiding nicotine, coffee and tea while wearing the appliance. Fruit juices and acidic foods can attack and roughen the bite splint material and thus promote the deposition of bacteria and dirt particles. After the cleaning process the bite splint should be stored in a special, air-permeable plastic container.
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