How to Clean Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea

• Clean sleep apnea oral appliances daily with cool or lukewarm water and a soft-bristled toothbrush, then dry thoroughly before storing.
• Deep-clean with an appliance-safe cleaner, such as PUL Cleaning Tablets. A 15-minute soak can help remove plaque, odor-causing buildup, and stains that brushing alone may miss.
• Follow device-specific care instructions and avoid hot water, abrasive toothpaste, bleach, alcohol, and other cleaners that may damage the appliance.

If you use a dental appliance for sleep apnea every night, your appliance also needs a regular cleaning routine. But if you weren't given detailed care instructions when you received your appliance—or you were and simply forgot what your dentist told you (hey, it happens!)—figuring out what to clean it with can be confusing. 

Fortunately, cleaning your oral appliance doesn't need to be complicated. A simple cleaning process of rinsing, gentle brushing, and deeper cleaning with an appliance cleaner like PUL can help remove bacteria buildup and keep your appliance feeling fresh.

Sleep apnea appliances can be made from different materials and include different components. Always follow the proper care instructions provided with your appliance, if they differ from general cleaning recommendations.

Sleep apnea oral appliances are typically worn throughout the night, often for around 6–8 hours at a time, so regular cleaning is an important part of taking care of them.

Here's a simple routine:

Avoid hot water during cleaning as some sleep apnea appliances are made from heat-sensitive materials, and high temperatures can warp the material or cause other damage.

For a deeper clean, PUL Cleaning Tablets provide a simple way to clean removable dental appliances without relying on abrasive toothpaste or a harsh household cleaning solution.

To use:

1. Fill a glass or container with enough warm (not hot) water to cover your appliance.
2. Drop in one PUL Cleaning Tablet.
3. Soak your appliance for 15 minutes. If your appliance is compatible with ultrasonic cleaning, you can also use an ultrasonic cleaner with our cleaning solution.
4. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean it.
5. Use water to rinse thoroughly before wearing it again.

PUL Cleaning Tablets are designed for removable dental appliances and help remove plaque, odor-causing buildup, and stains while making appliance cleaning easy to add to your normal oral-care routine.

If your sleep apnea appliance came with specific cleaning instructions, follow those instructions first. Some appliances have specialized materials, hinges, straps, sensors, or other components that require different care.

Your oral appliance spends hours in your mouth while you sleep.

During that time, saliva, plaque, and oral debris can collect on its surfaces and in small crevices. The American Thoracic Society specifically notes that plaque can build up on oral appliances and recommends daily cleaning.

Regular cleaning helps remove that buildup before you put the appliance back into your mouth the following night. It can also help prevent the appliance from developing unpleasant odors or feeling coated or dirty. And because your sleep appliance is something you're expected to wear night after night, keeping it clean is simply part of making it more pleasant to use.

Because your appliance works every night to treat sleep apnea, it should generally receive some form of cleaning every day.

A good routine is to rinse and gently brush the appliance after taking it out in the morning rather than allowing saliva and debris to dry onto its surfaces.

PUL Cleaning Tablets can also be incorporated into your regular appliance care routine when you want a more thorough clean that helps it function effectively over time.

There isn't one universal soaking schedule that applies to every sleep apnea appliance. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning tablets, while others limit how often their specific appliances should be soaked. If your appliance came with its own cleaning instructions, use those recommendations to determine how frequently to deep clean it.

Sleep apnea oral appliances can be made from different plastics, acrylics, metals, and other components. The wrong cleaning method can potentially scratch, discolor, warp, or otherwise damage the material your appliance is made from.

Here are a few things to be careful with:

The safest approach isn't to experiment with whatever cleaning product happens to be under the sink. Use products intended for removable dental appliances, keep the water temperature gentle, and pay attention to any restrictions specific to your oral device.

The same general cleaning principles apply to many removable dental and orthodontic appliances, including:

• Retainers
• Night guards
• Clear aligners
• Sports mouthguards
• Other removable dental appliances

Regular rinsing and gentle cleaning help prevent buildup, while a dental appliance cleaner like PUL Cleaning Tablets can make deeper cleaning easier.

However, cleaning instructions aren't always interchangeable. Different appliances can be made from different materials, so a cleaning method that's appropriate for one device may not be recommended for another.

When specific care instructions are available for your appliance, use those as your guide.

You shouldn't need a complicated list of household ingredients to clean your sleep apnea appliance.

Start with the basics: rinse it regularly, gently remove buildup with a soft toothbrush, avoid excessive heat and abrasive cleaners, and use PUL Cleaning Tablets when you want a convenient, deeper clean.

If your dentist or appliance manufacturer gave you specific cleaning instructions, follow those recommendations, especially for appliances with specialized components. 

A simple, repeatable routine with effective dental care products makes it much easier to keep the appliance you wear every night clean, fresh, and ready to use.