How to seal a mouth guard?

[mike]

I can't tell how big the cracks are, but if they're small, it's not about molecular size, it's about surface tension. A small amount of air can completely prevent liquid from entering a crack. The vacuum removes the air so the liquid gets sucked into the crack when you remove the vacuum. You can do a similar thing with pressure overcoming the resistance of the air pocket. A more difficult problem is the mouth slime that's in there. Maybe hit it with high pressure air to drive out some of the slime before the vacuum.

[nestork]

I haven't read all of the responses in here, so my apologies if someone has already suggested using a product like Polygrip, or anything that's used to hold dentures in place.

It might be a bit hard to pull your mouth guard off, but if you pull slowly it should come off without harming your teeth.

[willshak]

Go to the news group sci.med.dentistry. There is at least one dentist who posts there. Steven Bornfeld

[Jennifer Murphy]

I went to the local hardware store. The only thing that looked like it might work as a sealer was Super Glue or Crazy Glue (Cyanoacrylate). When I have used it in the past to make repairs, I recall it penetrating into cracks very rapidly and leaving almost no residue. I think it would get into even the tiniest cracks and it would kill anything.

But is it safe to have in my mouth even after it is completely dry and cured?

[dennisgauge]

I think it's time to bite the bullet, as it were, break down, and buy a new one. You got "several years" out of the first one. No reason you won't get "several years" out of the next one.

Like I said before, lots cheaper than fixing the damage from grinding your teeth.

[WW]

This is an odd request, but this forum has come up with amazing solutions to odd requests so many times...

I have fairly severe bruxism (teeth grinding). I've fractured several teeth over the years. My previous dentist gave me a standard mouth guard. I continued to fracture teeth. My current dentist recommended a device called an "NTI-TSS" (nociceptive trigeminal inhibitor tension suppression system). It's a tiny mouth guard that fits over just the front teeth. The theory is that the front teeth resist clenching whereas the back teeth are triggerred to clench when they sense something to chew (biting vs chewing).

In any case, my NTI is starting to exhibit an unpleasant odor. I think the problem is that it has developed some tiny cracks between the hard outer shell that stop the clenching and the inner, softer material that fits snugly around the teeth. These cracks are now serving as breeding grounds for bacteria. This problem didn't occur for the first several years I had the device, which is why I think it is related to a deterioration of the seal.

I've tried soaking it in alcohol and various antibacterial rinses. This cures the problem for a few days. I would like a more permanent solution.

Here's my question. Is there a material that I can use to seal the whole device? I'm thinking of some type of acrylic that would seep into all of the cracks and form a barrier to the bacteria getting back in there. I'd soak it in alcohol to kill the bacteria than apply the seal.

Whatever it is would have to be safe to have in my mouth every night.

If that fails, I guess I'll go get a new device. They are about $500, so if I can make this one last longer, I'd like to.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Could you check with a dentist to see if the (glue) they use to glue caps on teeth would work as it may be thin enough to fill fine cracks. WW

[Jennifer Murphy]

You don't understand. Now it's personal -- between me and the mouth guard. I can always get a new mouth guard. I only get a few chances to tackle a challenging problem that is not even close to being worth the effort. ;-)

[TomR]

I think the alcohol and/or alcohol-based dental rinse may have damaged the material and even caused the cracking in the device.

No, I don't think even dried Super Glue would be safe to keep in your mouth overnight. And, I think the Super Glue will be brittle and not compatible with the device.

[Jennifer Murphy]

...snip...

Thanks for that suggestion. I posted a question there and have already received a nice reply from Steven.

[micky]

I understand that. 40 years ago I spent 10 dollars on parts for an 8 dollar electric coffee pot and I don't even drink coffee.

I still do similar things.

[Jennifer Murphy]

But it's not even the $10. How many hours did you spend and how many trips to the hardware store?

Yea! At least one other similar sufferer. I wish I had a nickel for every hour I ever spend on a uselsss, but irresistable, project. Actually, now that I think of it, if I just had the hours back, I'd be a lot younger. ;-)

[dennisgauge]

As long as you admit that it's not worth the effort, have at it!

So many people come on here looking for cockamaime solutions to common problems, spending dollars to save dimes... It's rare when someone actually realizes that they are pursuing a fruitless endeavor.