Retainers are the victims of many accidental tosses into the trash, drops onto the floor, sometimes ending up in the muckiest of situations. This device is a necessity in preserving your smile, so what do you do? Here are some ways to keep your retainer clean and ready to use along with how to disinfect and rescue your retainer from any unfortunate germy mishaps.
Disinfecting Your Retainer
If your retainer finds itself in a germy predicament, the first goal is to sanitize it thoroughly to kill any bacteria and germs. It’s generally not safe to boil a retainer because it can lose its shape. Here are some other alternatives to try.
What You Will Need:
- Alcohol (concentrated, not the diluted type)
- Listerine (optional)
- Small bowls
- Old toothbrush
- Mild dish detergent
The Cleaning Process:
- Fill the small bowl with enough warm water to cover the retainer.
- Add a small amount of mild dish detergent (antibacterial detergent might be good) and mix until suds begin to form.
- Place the retainer in the water and scrub away any dirt or grime using the toothbrush.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Place the retainer in the second bowl and cover with alcohol. If you don’t have alcohol available, Listerine is also a germ killing mouthwash that could be used.
- Let the retainer soak for 15-30 minutes. Do not leave the retainer soak for too long or the alcohol could start to break down the plastic.
- Remove and rinse thoroughly under running water. Be sure to remove any alcohol that may be on the surfaces.
- Clean following the instructions for regular cleanings to ensure all alcohol is removed along with any peculiar tastes.
- If you are worried that you may damage you retainer, another option is to take it to your orthodontist and they can sanitize if for you.
Cleaning Your Retainer
Regularly cleaning your retainer is a necessity for good health. The retainer is exposed to many germs in your saliva, food particles or other things that enter your mouth. A retainer that is not kept clean can lead to bigger problems like infections of the throat, bacterial endocarditis and gastrointestinal infections. Here’s how to keep your retainer clean and yourself healthy.
What You Will Need:
- Small bowls
- Dental cleaner
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash (alcohol free)
The Cleaning Process:
- Remove the retainer from your mouth and rinse thoroughly.
- Fill the small bowl with enough dental cleaner to cover the retainer.
- Let the retainer soak for at least 15 minutes or longer if required by the manufacturer’s directions.
- Remove the retainer and use the toothpaste to scrub with toothpaste. You want to remove any plaque that has built-up.
- When you have removed all of the plaque, let the retainer soak in a small dish of mouthwash. The longer the better, try to soak it for at least two hours or overnight if possible.
- Remove the retainer and rinse.
- Your retainer should be clean and ready to use.
Additional Tips and Advice:
- Avoid boiling or using high heat methods to clean your retainer. The heat will warp the plastic and cause disfiguration.
- Avoid alcohol based mouthwashes and denture cleaners as they can cause the retainer to crack and break.
- If you are unable to remove the plaque, you may need to have a professional dentist clean it or you may need a new one.
- It’s best to brush your retainer daily when you brush your teeth. This will decrease the need for more intense cleanings.
My wife has a clear plastic retainer like the Invisilines. She brushes them but also soaks them in Hydrogen Peroxide. This gets them clean and even smelling/tasting fresh.
I work in the orthodontic industry and have seen thousands of retainers cleaned a million different ways. Using a toothbrush actually helps bacteria and the white scaly stuff stick to retainers by scratching their surface areas and allowing the gross stuff to stick better. Think of how you sand something before you paint it. Using mouthwash and stuff like bleach actually deteriorates the plastics and/or acrylics that retainers are made of. The denture tablet-type cleaners are much too harsh and take 15-20 minutes to work which is way too long to soak something like a retainer. The best way to clean your retainer is to use a product that is specifically designed to clean things like retainers, night-guards, mouth-guards, etc. There are several products available and you kind find them by Googling “retainer cleaner.”
My sister puts the retainer in her mouth brushes it and takes it out and then brushes it again.
Our orthodontist advised us NOT to use denture cleaner as they make the plastic parts brittle over time.
I’ve had retainers/bite guards for the past 30 years. I’ve never had a problem with Efferdent denture cleaning tablets. In fact, I won $10,000 in a scratch and win game they had during the 1996 Olympics, so that experience made me an Efferdent customer for life. Anyway, a Great Dane that I once pet sit for did one of my retainers in (to the tune of $700 to replace it) by getting it off the soap dish above the sink and chewing it to shards. I’ve been using Efferdent for years with no issues.
My retainer is stained beyond belief and I cant afford a new one but when I wear it which is non stop (as it has 2 fake teeth in it). I look like my teeth are orange and disgusting. Is there anything that is safe to use to paint it??
I just got my retainers since June 19, 2009. I try to clean my retainers every day. I only do soap and mouthwash and water and then I do it with the toothpaste. When I put them back in, the time I need to wear them they feel so good and don’t smell bad.
I just got my retainer today, and I know that you have to brush your retainer regularly to keep it clean, but I use an electric tooth brush, is it safe to use on my retainer? Should I buy a regular tooth brush instead?
I am also using a high powered electric toothbrush to clean my plastic retainers. I think I’m going to use it on slow now to clean them, also the bristles on the head are worn so they are soft, and I don’t think they will scratch it.
I clean mine with very cold water and no toothpaste. I am getting white deposits mostly where it can’t reach on the top half of the retainer in the place where my 2 bugs bunny incisors are (they’re not that big).
Thanks for the advice, I never knew they get plaque even though I brush my teeth every time I eat and wake up or go to sleep.
I soaked my retainer in mouthwash for like 12 hours it has 20% alcohol is it going to break down my retainer or harm me by wearing my retainer at night.
I have had my retainer for 2 months and I have been using my toothbrush and toothpaste to clean regularly. I clean in the morning, after meals and at night!! I looked online to find out what to clean with and there’s so many ways, but which is the correct way? Wow, I just did what SJ said and went to Google and searched for retainer cleaner, and it come up with Sonicbrite. It works, so it says not to clean with your toothpaste and toothbrush. It scratches it and discolors it, so that’s what to do!!
I have a retainer and in the first couple of months it was unbearable to wear. I did some research and I found that they have cleaning machines for retainers. It works awesome! Just do a search, the one I use is called Sonicbrite. I hope this helps, Good luck!
My dental hygienist just cleaned my soft night guard in some kind of machine today and now it has a terrible taste that I cannot get rid of. Is this harmful to wear? Are there chemicals used in this process at the dentists office that are maybe not ok to use for soft plastics but would have been ok to use if my night guard were a harder plastic? Worried about using this now. Thanks for input.
If you have a plastic/glass retainer, do not soak it in mouthwash! It will ruin it!
My orthodontist said to brush my teeth, then use whatever tooth paste is left on my brush to brush my retainer. I do this twice a day. This is what he said to do, and I will follow him. I like having different ways to do it. Make sure you have a SOFT bristle brush.