Keeping your retainer clean is hygienic and can ensure your teeth stay straight for years. As mentioned in Healthline, not taking proper care of your retainer can harbor dangerous bacteria such as Streptococcus. Although those bacteria are present in the mouth, they can cause serious health concerns if they are present in excess.
Which Kind of Retainer Do You Have?
There are three main types of retainers. They all have pros and cons, but which one do you have?
- Hawley retainer. These have acrylic on the inside and a metal wire on the outside. They are excellent at maintaining your bite’s width but may not be the most aesthetic option.
- Essix or Invisalign style retainers: These are the clear retainers fabricated at our office. We prefer these because they wrap around each tooth to keep them in place for life.
- Permanent retainer: Many patients get these retainers on the bottom front teeth and may also have an Essix retainer if anything happens to the permanent retainer.
How to Clean Your Retainer
Hawley and Clear Plastic Retainers
You must clean Hawley and clear retainers after every use. We recommend wearing your retainers for at least 14 hours a day, and when they are not in your mouth, they should be kept in a secure container.
- Clean your retainer as soon as you remove it from your mouth. Once the material dries onto the retainer, it will be more challenging to clean.
- Brush the retainer with lukewarm water and a toothbrush.
- Use this toothbrush only for retainer cleaning; do not put it in your mouth.
- A few times a week, clean your retainer with lukewarm water and antibacterial dish soap or hand soap. This will prevent bacteria from accumulating on your retainer. Make sure to rinse with water after using any type of soap thoroughly.
- DO NOT USE TOOTHPASTE to clean your retainer. Toothpaste contains a lot of abrasive material and slowly degrades your retainer.
- If needed once a month, use a specialized effervescent retainer cleaning solution to eliminate excess debris.
If you have debris that will not come off or your retainer is damaged, see us take a look and possibly make you a new retainer.
Fixed Retainer
These retainers are terrific for keeping your teeth straight, but they are the most difficult to keep clean.
Here’s what we recommend to keep it clean:
- Use floss daily. Use at least an eight-inch piece of floss to get in between your teeth.
- You can use a floss threader to get in between your permanent retainer and your gums.
- Do not be too forceful and damage your gum tissue.
- Use non-alcohol-based mouthwash to clean areas that are missed with brushing and flossing alone.
- Use an automatic toothbrush (Thrive Sonic Toothbrush or Sonicare) to brush around the permanent retainer.
You must maintain your regular hygiene visits when you have a permanent retainer, as plaque tends to accumulate around the wires.
More Helpful Retainer Hints
1. Pets love retainers.
The smell and feel of them are irresistible, so make sure they cannot access them and hide them away in a safe area. I have personally experienced this, and many of my patients also have. Dogs tend to enjoy the feel of the retainers, so make sure you do not leave the retainers on your nightstand or somewhere easily accessible.
2. Avoid heat
If you were using Invisalign, you already know this, but heat can distort your retainer and make it unusable. When cleaning your retainers, you want to use lukewarm water, but not heat that can distort your retainers.
3. Clean your case
You can harbor just as much bacteria as your retainer can. Make sure to use similar cleaning techniques on your retainer case and use mild soap once a week to remove any bacteria.
4. Replace when needed
Many people keep their retainers for twenty years or more, but some patients may need to replace them earlier. Remember, it is less expensive to replace a retainer than not use it properly and need to do orthodontic treatment all over again.
Keeping it Clean Makes All the Difference
Proper use and cleanliness of a retainer can be the difference between having beautiful teeth and needing to see an orthodontist again.
Follow these guidelines to ensure your beautiful smile, and if you have any issues,come in and see us!
