How to clean your mouthguard

by Mike, with an assist from Doc Dill

Since you already know how to properly fit a mouthguard, you've presumably been wearing it when appropriate (both for sparring and to make workouts more difficult), you've probably gotten some good use out of the thing (while maintaining good mouthguard etiquette). Now all that's left is to figure out what to do when it gunks up on you.

And gunk up it will, even if you take good care of it - but here's some guidelines to taking care of this most important piece of equipment:

1. Wash your mouthguard after use
   
2. Put it away in something clean - NOT the bottom of your bag
   
3. When you get home, take it out and let it dry
   
4. If it starts to get disgusting, let it sit in Listerine for ten minutes or so, take it out, scrub it with a toothbrush and wash it. Be careful, because you're gonna be tasting the Listerine for a few days afterwards. Air dry and get ready to use it again.

Some people prefer to eschew the Listerine and go straight for toothpaste or some of that fizzy denture cleaner. Your choice.

This should take care of 99% of your mouthguard problems. If you run into something that this won't help...you either need to get creative or just get a new mouthguard.

Let us know if you have any tricks in the comments.

CC-licensed photo by nycgeoff.