If you have gone through orthodontic treatment and are wearing a retainer now, you might be searching for effective ways to clean your retainers. Search no more. This dental guide will share a few practical tips for retainer care. So, stay with us and read this dental guide until the end to explore a few effective ways of cleaning your retainers.
A retainer sits inside your mouth against your teeth which indicates that it can quickly accumulate bacteria, plaque, and tartar. That’s why it is essential to pay significant importance to take care of these retainers.
Retainers help the muscles and tissues in the mouth to hold the teeth in their new placement. Many people wear retainer full time once they have their braces removed. That’s necessary because your teeth aren’t set in a rigid environment even after being corrected by braces.
Here are a few tips on cleaning these retainers and ensuring that they are well-maintained.
5 Tips to Clean Retainers
Here are a few methods of cleaning teeth retainers. After reading this guide, you will get to know how to clean retainers.
1. Keep Your Retainers Wet
Water itself may not clean a retainer; however, drinking plenty of water can help prevent the growth of bacteria. In simple words, keeping a retainer moist will help prevent the damage. In addition to that, water also combats a dry mouth linked to tooth decay. If you feel a retainer is dirty, you can try swishing some water in the mouth a few times.
Consuming soda and other sugary drinks can affect a retainer just as they affect your teeth. So, at first, you should avoid drinking sugary beverages. Still, if you want to consume these beverages, take the retainer out before consuming these drinks.
Dry retainers are more prone to damage. So, you must soak your retainer in distilled water every time it is removed.
2. Toothpaste
While brushing your teeth, you should brush the retainer as well. After applying the toothpaste, remove the retainer and rinse it thoroughly. It is recommended to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-whitening toothpaste.
Also, you should brush your teeth after removing the retainer. This is necessary to clean all areas that are covered by a retainer.
3. Denture Cleaner
Cleaning a retainer with a denture cleaner is a safe and effective procedure. However, a denture retainer may turn a retainer yellow. If you want to clean a retainer with a denture cleaner, rinse the retainer and soak it in the denture cleaner for 20 minutes.
After that, take the retainer out and gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush. Continue rinsing the retainer until the taste of a denture cleaner vanishes.
4. Baking Soda
Another effective method of cleaning retainers is using baking soda. Baking soda is safe to use and is an all-purpose disinfectant. Baking soda helps in whitening the retainers that have yellowed. Also, it controls bacteria without harsh chemicals and can prevent retainers from developing pH imbalances that would otherwise harm your mouth.
To use baking soda, you should create a paste that is half water and half baking soda. Make sure the mixture is thick enough to stick to the retainer.
5. Vinegar
White vinegar is a disinfectant that removes odors and residues. If you want to clean a retainer with vinegar, create a mixture of a small dish that is half vinegar and half warm water. The retainer should be soaked in the mixture for 20 minutes.
6. Mouthwash
Mouthwash effectively fights plaque, bacteria, and other deposits in the mouth. Along with that, it can also clean a retainer when other options are not available.
When no other options are available, consider dipping a retainer in a non-alcoholic mouthwash for 2-3 minutes, rinse with cold water, and then gently brush with a soft toothbrush.
Final Words
Teeth retainers are essential for keeping teeth in their new and original shape. These retainers sit in your mouth and are prone to get damaged. That’s why it is essential to pay significant importance to take care of these retainers. Adopt any of the procedures mentioned above to clean your retainers regularly.
