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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums
How Do You Clean Retainers?
After removing their braces, people must wear a retainer full-time because teeth are not set in a rigid environment. Even after braces have been used to correct them and move them into a better position, they can shift over time.
You may wonder how to care for your retainer if you wear one. Because your retainer is inside your mouth and against your teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar quickly accumulate. Cleaning your retainer regularly is just as mandatory as brushing your teeth.
Here is a simple guide to cleaning retainers easily:
Follow these steps to clean your Hawley or clear plastic retainer(not fixed one):
- Always clean the retainer as soon as you take it out of your mouth while it’s still wet. This will make cleaning up any debris easier before it hardens.
- After each meal, rinse your retainer with lukewarm water. Before putting your retainer back, always Brush your teeth.
- To get a deeper clean, combine lukewarm water and mild dish soap (toothpaste are abrasive and can scratch the surface of the retainer). Scrub plaque and other debris away with a soft toothbrush or denture brush.
- Use a cotton swab to get into the deepest grooves and ridges on clear plastic retainers if necessary.
Why You Should Clean Retainers?
While you wear your retainer, it will continue to collect bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your mouth. If you don’t clean it frequently enough, it may even begin to smell or taste funny over time.
In addition to Lactobacillus and Veillonella, retainers can harbor dangerous bacteria such as Streptococcus, including S. Sanguinis, S. mitis, and S. Salivarius. While many bacteria are naturally found in the mouth, too many can cause illness.
Here is the list of other common retainer cleaning methods that you should never use:
- Brushing Dishwashers
- Boiling water or other high temperatures can cause it to deform.
- Bleach, alcohol, and other caustic substances
- Mouthwash
- UV light disinfectants
- Tablets and retainer cleaners
After cleaning daily, and deep cleaning at least once a week, if you still see yellow or white dots on your retainers, visit your Orthodontics.
