Final Thoughts – It is crucial to keep your retainer clean and odor-free, however many common cleaning procedures might actually damage your retainer and your oral microbiota. Never include chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide and persulfate (found in Efferdent, Polident, etc.) into your cleaning regimen.
Nor should bleach, hot water, or even conventional toothpaste be used. To keep your retainer fresh, soak it in distilled water (with baking soda and/or castile soap, if desired). Once every week, soak your retainer in white vinegar, or take it to the dentist to be cleaned. By avoiding the use of dangerous chemicals, you should be able to care for your retainer for a long time and maintain oral health in the process.
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How frequently should I brush my teeth?
How to Wear and Take Care of Your Retainers – Wear your retainers continuously unless instructed differently by your dentist. Wearing retainers as recommended is the greatest way to ensure that the benefits of treatment will last a lifetime. Remove retainers before eating and always store them in their case! (The majority of appliances are lost in school cafeterias and restaurants.) At least once every day, retainers should be cleaned properly, ideally just before being placed in the mouth.
- Use cold rather than boiling water.
- Rinsing your retainers reduces smells and removes plaque.
- At least once every two weeks, properly clean your retainers by soaking them in a denture cleanser, such as Efferdent®.
- Before soaking retainers, dissolve Efferdent® in boiling water and allow the solution to cool to room temperature.
When retainers are not being worn, they should ALWAYS be stored in a retainer case. Pets like chewing on them! Initially, you may find it challenging to communicate. Speaking, reading, and singing out loud will help you become accustomed to them more quickly.
Retainers are fragile, so handle them with caution. If retainers are lost or damaged, please contact us immediately. Call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your retainers or if they need to be adjusted. Do not attempt to modify them on your own. Always remember to bring your retainers to appointments.
Replacement retainers are costly; with appropriate care, they will last for years. Take out retainers before swimming. Keep retainers away from hot water, hot automobile dashboards, heated pockets, the washing machine, and napkins. Retainer Guidelines
Choose the Method That Serves You Best – The only constant is brushing your retainer with a gentle toothbrush. If you only wear your retainer at night, you should do so at least twice every day. If you wear your retainer throughout the day, you should brush it gently or at least thoroughly rinse it every time you clean your teeth.
Why do my retainers have a morning odor?
4.) Your Retainer Reeks – Does your retainer smell like morning breath? This is presumably the result of a buildup of oral bacteria. Over 700 distinct species of bacteria are normally present in the mouth, and they can quickly multiply overnight. Without adequate dental care, these particles will decompose and emit foul-smelling gases, causing your retainer to stink! Not only is this uncomfortable, but it also increases the likelihood of oral health problems such as gum disease and cavities.
