It is a wonderful feeling to finally get your braces off, and at that time you are given retainers to prevent your teeth from moving again. In this blog, Dr. Updike, an Irvine orthodontist, discusses how to properly clean and take care of your retainers.
Type of Retainers
There are a few different types of retainers that may be given to you by your orthodontist: the Hawley Retainer, Clear Plastic Retainer, and Bonded Retainer.
How to Clean
Retainers are crucial to help maintain your smile after braces and are advised to be worn forever. This means proper cleaning and maintenance of your retainers is important due to bacteria build up. Bacterial plaque colonizes on your teeth and your retainer. They can make it look, taste, and smell bad.
We recommend cleaning your retainers once you remove them and when they are still wet. When you let plaque solidify onto your retainers, it makes it difficult to remove. Although brushing your retainer with your toothbrush may seem like a great way to remove plaque, we recommend soaking them in a denture or retainer cleaner daily. There are many over the counter brands that you can buy, but we recommend checking if these tablets contain anti-bacterial properties. This will be the most effective way to remove plaque any odors for the next time you wear your retainers. If you notice there is still plaque on your retainer afterwards, only use soap and water to clean the area with a brush, not toothpaste or any solution that is abrasive.
If there is calcium build up on your retainers that will not come off when brushing with soap and water, we recommend calling our office for further assistance. By following these tips on how to clean and maintain your retainers, they will last a lot longer!
If you have any additional questions on how to clean or maintain your retainers, please contact us at (949) 870-9713. Our friendly team members are ready to assist you.
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