How to Clean Dental Retainers
After having your teeth straightened, your retainers will help them maintain their correct position. Accordingly, taking good care of your retainers is extremely important, which is why we are providing the following information on how to clean dental retainers.
Why use Dental Retainers?
Even after wearing braces, your teeth may not maintain their new position indefinitely. Some naturally shifting can occur, and in some cases may cause alignment issues again. Often, the only way to alleviate these alignment issues is to undergo braces a second time.
Dental retainers in Columbus, Ohio prevents misalignment issues, ensuring the results of your teeth straightening last and continue to provide you with a winning smile. If you are not currently wearing retainers, please contact us today to schedule a fitting.
How to Clean Dental Retainers by Hand
Your retainers can accumulate plaque and bacteria, so you should clean them daily. Ideally, you’ll do this as soon as you take them out. First, rinse the retainer under lukewarm (not hot) water to remove saliva and food particles.
Next, brush them lightly with a soft-bristled toothbrush or denture brush. Use only warm water to brush your retainers with. Toothpaste and baking soda are both mildly abrasive, and may therefore scratch the plastic parts of your retainer.
Soaking Dental Retainers
Alternately, you may also soak your retainers in a denture-cleaning solution. You may wish to do this if you do not have time to brush your retainers or feel that they need a little extra cleaning.
Use a commercial denture cleaning product such as Efferdent. Place your retainers in a dish with just enough water in it to cover them. Add one denture cleaning tablet and allow it to completely dissolve. Leave your retainers to soak for the recommended amount of time, which is normally a few hours.
Dos and Don’ts
Learning how to clean dental retainers also means following some best practices for taking care of them. Here are some dos and don’ts:
- Do store your retainers in an approved case. Don’t leave them sitting out on a table or any other surface.
- Do dry your retainers before placing them in their case. Don’t store them while wet as this can allow bacteria to grow.
- Do use only lukewarm water when cleaning. Don’t place them in hot water because the heat may cause your retainers to warp.
- Do clean your retainers on a daily basis. Don’t put dirty, germ-filled appliances back into your mouth.
Other Services
Aside from showing people how to clean dental retainers, we also offer a number of other dental services here at South High Dental, including:
Schedule an Appointment in Columbus, Ohio Today
At South High Dental, we provide top-notch dental and orthodontic treatment in a caring, professional atmosphere. Let us show you how to clean dental retainers and take care of your teeth in order to have the best smile possible. Schedule an appointment today by calling 614.363.2462.
