What is the best way to clean my retainers? - Scottsdale Phoenix AZ | Budd Orthodontics

Retainers are the most important aspect of orthodontic treatment. If retainers are not properly worn, all your hard work to achieve the perfect smile and a healthy bite using braces or Invisalign can simply go to waste.  One important aspect of maintaining your retainers is keeping them clean and free of the harmful buildup of the acid-producing bacteria found in dental plaque (the white fuzzy stuff that collects on your teeth when you don’t brush well). The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to gently brush your retainers with your toothbrush and toothpaste every time you brush your teeth.

In general, if you are brushing your retainers as often as you brush your teeth, your retainers will stay relatively clean and free of bacteria buildup.  If you are “out and about” and don’t have access to your toothbrush, you should gently rinse your retainers with clean water and then brush them when you do have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste.  This will prevent the proteins and minerals in your saliva from drying on the retainer and creating what might be referred to as “hard water” stains on your retainer.

When you are no longer wearing your retainer full-time and only while you sleep, a thorough cleaning in the morning after waking up should be sufficient to keep your retainers looking like new.  Sometimes despite your best efforts, you will start to get some buildup collecting on your retainers.  The best way to get back on track is to soak the retainers in a denture cleaner like  Efferdent or Polydent or a generic equivalent.  These cleaners are specifically designed for the materials that retainers are made of. However, if you have a retainer with solder joints (rarely used in our office), make sure you use a non-persulfate cleanser like Dentasoak instead of Efferdent or Polydent. Please do not use household cleaners like bleach or other abrasive cleaners on your retainers.  This is dangerous if there is any residual cleaner left on the retainer and will be harmful to the retainer itself over time. 

Follow these simple guidelines, and you should have a happy and healthy mouth for many years to come.