How to Disinfect a Mouthguard Without Damaging It

After a box lacrosse practice or game, the safe routine is simple: rinse the mouthguard, brush every surface with liquid soap, rinse again and let it dry completely. Do not boil it or leave it sealed and wet in your equipment bag.

Strictly speaking, soap-and-water care is cleaning, not chemical disinfection. The CDC defines cleaning as removing germs, dirt and impurities with water, soap and scrubbing; disinfection uses chemicals to kill most germs on a surface. For an item that goes back into your mouth, do not substitute a household surface disinfectant for the care directions supplied with the guard. The CDC also says products should be suitable for the surface and used according to their labels.

The post-game cleaning routine

1. Rinse with cool water. Do this as soon as you take the guard out, before saliva and debris dry on it.
2. Apply a small amount of liquid soap. Use a clean toothbrush to reach the tooth channels, biting surface, outer face and edges. Brush gently rather than bending the guard.
3. Rinse thoroughly. Keep rinsing with cool water until no soap remains.
4. Let it air-dry fully. Set it on a clean surface where air can reach it. Do not immediately close a wet guard inside its case.
5. Store it in a ventilated case. The American Dental Association recommends a sturdy container with vents so the mouthguard can dry. It also advises rinsing before and after use and regularly washing the guard in cool, soapy water. See the ADA’s mouthguard-care guidance.
6. Clean and dry the case. A clean guard should not go back into a case that still contains moisture or debris.

This is a useful locker-room habit: take the guard out after the final shift, rinse it before changing, then do the soap-and-brush step when you get home. The checkpoint is straightforward—the guard and case should be visibly clean, free of soap and completely dry before storage.

What not to use

Do not use boiling water, very hot tap water or direct heat to clean the guard. Sports mouthguards are shaped to fit your teeth, and both the ADA and Dorset County Hospital specifically warn against hot water or heat during care. The hospital’s sports-mouthguard instructions call for cold water, a toothbrush and liquid soap.

Do not improvise with bleach, household disinfectant, alcohol or an unapproved soak. Mouthguards are made from different materials. If your guard’s manufacturer supplies directions for a compatible cleaning tablet or disinfecting product, follow its concentration and soaking time exactly, then rinse as directed. For a custom guard, ask the dentist who made it before using any chemical treatment.

If it hit the floor or you were sick

Clean the mouthguard before using it again. If you want true disinfection because it was heavily contaminated, shared accidentally or used during an illness, check the product instructions or ask a dentist for a method compatible with that specific guard. Never share a mouthguard.

Cleaning cannot repair damage. Replace the guard if it is torn, badly chewed, deformed or no longer fits securely; the ADA advises immediate replacement when a mouthguard is worn, damaged or ill-fitting. A player with a custom guard should also contact the dentist after a significant impact, dental damage or persistent irritation.