The Top Retainer Care Tips You Need to Know

Lateet November 21, 2019

At any given time in the United States, it’s estimated that around 5 million people are wearing braces. Dentists recommend that everyone who gets their braces removed should then start wearing a retainer.

And though many of those people do actually wear their retainers, they may become lazy with cleaning and taking proper care. This can result in oral issues down the line.

If you have a retainer or have a child who uses one, continue reading to learn about proper retainer care.

Avoid Heat

When your retainer is exposed to high temperatures, it can warp and then become useless. In order to keep your retainer protected, keep it away from microwaves, washers and dryers, boiling water, dishwashers, and your car’s dashboard.

When you wash your retainer, make sure to use lukewarm water, not super hot water.

Don’t Use Chemicals

You’ll rarely have to use harsh cleaners in order to get a clean and sparkly retainer. There are chemical cleansing tablets that you can use to clean some retainers but these aren’t always effective at reducing most bacteria.

However, those tablets have been known to remove “cocci” bacteria which can cause strep throat.

Brush Your Retainer

The best way to clean your removable retainer is to brush it. You should clean your retainer right after removing it from your mouth, while it is still wet.

Run it under lukewarm water and brush it with your toothbrush.

If you need a deeper cleaning, make a mixture of dish soap and lukewarm water and brush your retainer with a soft toothbrush. You can also use a cotton swab to get into hard to reach crevices.

If you’re still worried that your container isn’t getting clean enough, ask your dentist what they would recommend.

Clean Your Case

For many people, their retainers spend the majority of their lifespans in a case. Because of that, you want to make sure that that case is clean and free of dirt and bacteria.

You should clean your case once a day. The most effective way to clean your case is by washing it in warm, soapy water. Make sure to give it a good scrub.

Then rinse it off and dry it completely. Leaving water residue could result in mold growth.

Keep It in a Safe Place

Make sure that you keep your retainer somewhere that is cool and dry. Also, store it somewhere where pets won’t get to it and chew it up.

And remember to keep an eye on it whenever you take it out. If you remove your retainer to eat, don’t stuff it into a napkin and then forget where you put it.

But if you do lose your retainer, don’t panic as they’re not difficult to replace. Learn more about how to handle this kind of situation before deciding on what to do.