How to Keep Your Retainer Clean

You’ve endured cuts in your mouth, tightening of your braces and some hefty pain, but now the braces have come off to reveal your beautiful smile. However, to keep those pearly whites straight, you’ll need to wear a retainer for some time, maybe even for your whole life. Here’s how to keep your new appliance clean.

Instructions

• 1

  Use a toothbrush. Ask your orthodontist if it is safe to use a toothbrush on your retainer. If so, use a little toothpaste and scrub away every day.

• 2

  Consider a professional retainer-cleaning product. There are varieties of products on the market for cleaning retainers. In some cases, such products might be overkill, but some people find prepackaged solutions convenient.

• 3

  Watch for white build-up. This can mean you aren’t getting your retainer clean. If the problem persists, consider changing your routine or cleaning your retainer more often.

• 4

  Check for foul odors. If your retainer is getting stinky, it’s likely that you aren’t keeping it clean enough. A good daily routine should help prevent an odiferous retainer.

• 5

  Soak the retainer occasionally, but no more than once a week. You can a homemade solution or purchase denture cleaning tablets to do this. Keep in mind that generic brands work just as well as expensive name brands. Don’t soak for more than a few hours and don’t use anything with alcohol in it, such as mouthwash, for soaking. A good time to do this is when you see white buildup or smell a foul odor. Make sure you rinse thoroughly before putting your appliances back into your mouth.