Table of Content
To clean with denture cleaner, people should rinse the retainer and then allow it to soak in the denture cleaner for about 20 minutes. After taking it out, they should then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush. One of the best ways to clean plastic retainers and Hawley retainers is to use toothpaste and a toothbrush, just like when you clean a sports mouth guard after use. Squeeze a small dollop of toothpaste on your brush and wet it under lukewarm water. There are natural remedies for cleaning retainers that include mixtures of baking soda with water.
After this, using a toothbrush dipped in hydrogen peroxide, scrub out any leftover pieces of hard food particles. Make sure to be gentle with your retainer, as you don’t want to damage it. While most dentists recommend you wear your Invisalign for 22 hours every day, you need to ensure your teeth are clean before you put them on.
How to Clean Retainers: Tips, Tricks, Cleaners, and Natural Solutions
Whenever you brush your teeth, use a soft-bristled brush to eliminate any buildup. If you brush your teeth at least twice a day and clean your retainer regularly, then these white deposits will be a minor problem. Keep reading to find out the most effective ways to maintain your retainers. Do not brush clear aligners or retainers with toothpaste.
Instead, soak them in cool water overnight, or purchase retainer cleaners specifically designed for clear devices . Combine 3/4 cups of warm water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1-2 squirts of castile soap. Dissolve the baking soda by gently mixing the solution and soak your retainers when you’re not wearing. Make sure that you rinse your retainer with warm water thoroughly before putting them in again.
Explore other topics
After eating and before putting your retainer back in your mouth, try to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth. There are a few different ways of deep-cleaning your removable retainer. Talk to your orthodontist to find out which is suitable for your type of retainer. Many people need to wear a retainer full time for a while after they have their braces removed. This is because teeth aren’t set in a rigid environment. Even after they’ve been corrected by braces and moved into a better position, they can shift over time.
A quick mouthwash soak is a great way to kill bacteria buildup in your retainer. Use a mild soap or cleaning product and use a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt and buildup off of plastic retainers. Take your time to be thorough yet gentle, to avoid breakage. Avoid using mouthwash to clean your Invisalign or clear retainers. These often contain dyes and then which can stain your clear aligners.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP 10 WAYS AVAILABLE TO CLEAN YOUR RETAINER:
Cleaners can help keep the retainers clean especially if you are planning on wearing removable retainers for longer. Soak the cleaner tablets and the retainers in a cup of water to clean them. The best way to clean plastic retainers is with a little bit of baking soda.
Put your retainer in the bleach water for 30 minutes. If your retainer has visible plaque on it, gently brush it with a toothbrush, but don’t use toothpaste. Rinsing your retainer with water isn’t going to cut it. However, you can soak your retainer in baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap to safely disinfect it.
Castile Soap
It uses hydrogen peroxide to clean your retainers while also providing whitening benefits to your teeth. Another method I can recommend would be to gently brush or clean aligners or retainers with a soft bristle toothbrush and a gentle and mild soap. Be sure to wash them off very well before putting them back in. If your dentist has not already advised you on how to clean it using a denture or a retainer cleaner, like them.

My best piece of advice is to never let your retainer dry out as this is what will cause tartar and biofilm to adhere to it. I should note that before we get started, people frequently ask me how to clean various kinds of retainers. The good news is that the cleaning procedure is the same whether you have clear retainers or a metal and acrylic version. Using Water, White vinegar, Baking soda, Castile Soap, UV Sanitiser,Retainer cleaner, etc, all are safe solutions to clean a retainer.
To create a paste to softly brush throughout the retainer. Or using white vinegar that can be used as a disinfectant to clean out the bacteria that may be residing in your retainer. Avoid using toothpaste or any abrasive cleaning productthat can damage your clear retainer. Instead, try soaking the clear plastic retainer in lukewarm water and ask the orthodontist what type of mild and gentle cleaner to use. The sodium hypochlorite in bleach removes stains and kills bacteria better than any of the cleansing tablets you can buy. Since there are no metal parts to worry about corroding with clear retainers like Essix and Vivera, bleach is the best way to clean these type of retainers.

Be sure to mix equal parts mouthwash and lukewarm water. You don’t necessarily need to use harsh cleansers to get a squeaky-clean retainer. Brush out your retainer with lukewarm water after each meal. It’s a good idea to brush your teeth at this time as well. You should clean your retainer at least once a day, and the best time is before you insert it into your mouth. Baking soda, vinegar, and even toothpaste can be effective cleaners.
For the more gadget minded there are alsoultrasonic cleaners designed for deep cleaning of retainers and other oral appliances. Ultrasonic cleaners work by producing high-frequency sound waves to remove debris. As an alternative to the DIY cleaners, many companies also make cleaning solutions designed specifically for retainers, such asRetainer Brite. Directions on these can vary and may require added tools, such as an ultrasonic cleaner, so be sure to read the instructions before buying. Additionally, check that what you are buying is for retainers as some denture cleaning solutions have coloration in them that stain clear retainers over time. Some orthodontists might recommend a low-power water flosser while others might teach you new methods of being able to floss properly.

Denture cleaner will also work, or boiling it in water but DO NOT USE BLEACH! Bleach makes them rust, and then they turn the color of your braces which isn’t very pretty. Remove as much toothpaste as possible by rinsing under tap water, then dry thoroughly with either cloth or towel. It is essential to let your retainer dry entirely before placing it back in your mouth. Avoid soaking Hawley type retainers in mouthwashes containing alcohol.