Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 5: Method One: Cleaning the retainer with a vinegar solution
• Method 2 of 5: Method Two: Clean the retainer with denture cleaners and toothpaste
• Method 3 of 5: Method Three: Cleaning the Retainer with Baking Soda
• Method 4 of 5: Method Four: Cleaning the Retainer with Castile Soap
• Method 5 of 5: Method Five: Disinfecting the Retainer
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

After wearing the retainer for a long time, plaque and various bacteria begin to collect on it. In this article, you will learn how to use home remedies to keep your retainer clean so that it doesn't smell bad and doesn't look dirty. Store-based retainer care products work much better and come with instructions on how to use them correctly.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Method One: Cleaning the retainer with a vinegar solution

1. 1 Rinse the retainer with warm or cold (not hot) water.
2. 2 Place the retainer in a shallow glass, but large enough for the retainer to fit completely.
3. 3 Pour vinegar into a glass so that the retainer is completely submerged in it.
4. 4 Let the retainer sit in the vinegar for 2-5 minutes. It is not recommended to keep it longer, as the vinegar can begin to corrode the plastic of the retainer.
5. 5 Remove the retainer from the glass and gently brush it with a toothbrush. Be sure to clean all gaps and cracks, not forgetting the inside of the machine as well.
6. 6 Rinse the retainer again with warm or cold water. Your retainer is now clean enough to support your teeth and smile again.

Method 2 of 5: Method Two: Clean the retainer with denture cleaners and toothpaste

1. 1 Rinse the retainer to remove any visible plaque. Don't use this method too often as it is quite powerful. Repeated use of denture cleaners can lead to yellowing of the retainer as well as deformation of its plastic shape.
2. 2 Place the retainer in a shallow glass and fill it to the top with rinse aid. You can buy denture cleaners at most pharmacies. They can be sold as a cream, liquid, powder, or tablet. As the name suggests, they are primarily used to clean dentures, but they can also be used to clean retainers.
3. 3 Soak your retainer in denture cleaner for 15-20 minutes, or as long as indicated on the package. Read the instructions carefully to know exactly how long your retainer should be in the liquid.
4. 4 Soak the retainer in a non-alcoholic mouthwash for 30 minutes to several hours. The longer the better. The main thing is that the rinse aid is non-alcoholic.
   • The use of alcoholic rinse aid can deform the plastic part of the retainer. If you only have an alcoholic mouthwash, soak the retainer for no more than 20 minutes.
5. 5 Pull out the retainer at the end of the allotted time and rinse it. Your retainer is now clean and ready to use again.

Method 3 of 5: Method Three: Cleaning the Retainer with Baking Soda

1. 1 Make a paste using baking soda and distilled water. Mix baking soda and water together in a 1: 1 ratio to form a paste. This paste should resemble a very light toothpaste.
2. 2 Using a toothbrush, apply the paste to the retainer and brush it thoroughly. Clean your retainer with baking soda the same way you would with regular toothpaste.
   • Soda is a very good natural cleaning agent. In particular, baking soda naturally increases the acidity level in the mouth, which brings it to a more normal level. The bacteria in the retainer prefer a more acidic environment, which makes baking soda a very effective cleaning agent.
3. 3 Rinse off the paste and enjoy your newly refreshed retainer.

Method 4 of 5: Method Four: Cleaning the Retainer with Castile Soap

1. 1 Get some Castile soap. Castile soap is a milder type of soap due to the fact that it contains more than half of olive oil and coconut oil. Named after the Castilla region in Spain, Castile soap does an excellent job of cleaning retainers without being exposed to harsher and more harmful substances.
2. 2 Take some liquid castile soap and dissolve it in a little warm water. Lather may not appear because Castile soap is more delicate than regular soap. But don't worry, it is still meant to be cleaned.
3. 3 Submerge the retainer in the castile soap solution and brush it off with a toothbrush. Get a separate brush specially designed for cleaning with castile soap.Although Castile soap is gentle and won't hurt you, it's best not to use a brush afterwards.
4. 4 Rinse off any remaining soap from the retainer.

Method 5 of 5: Method Five: Disinfecting the Retainer

1. 1 Take some antibacterial dish soap and dilute it in a bowl of warm water. Dilute the soap until it lathers.
2. 2 Submerge the retainer in soapy water and use a toothbrush to remove plaque and dirt from the retainer. Rinse the retainer after rinsing completely.
3. 3 Place the retainer in a small bowl and cover with isopropyl alcohol. If you don't have alcohol, you can use any mouthwash that contains alcohol. Above all, do not soak the retainer for too long, no more than 20 minutes.
4. 4 Rinse the retainer with water. Try rinsing all the alcohol off the retainer.
5. 5 Soak the retainer in a small bowl filled with distilled water for 10 minutes. Through this process, the remaining alcohol will be rinsed out of the retainer during the last soak.

Tips

• Clean your retainer thoroughly at least once a day to keep it fresh and free of bacteria and plaque.
• Always pat your retainer after removing it from your mouth. Dried saliva can lead to deposits on the retainer. Remove the retainer and rinse it under warm water before eating.
• You can clean your retainer with baking soda from time to time to remove unpleasant odors. Remember that frequent use of baking soda can damage the retainer. Retainers typically range in price from $ 100 to $ 300.
• Dry the retainer gently with a towel.
• For most retainers, it is best to use a soft toothbrush with a little bit of toothpaste. (Be aware that a toothbrush can scratch Invisalign or Essix brand retainers).
• If you are having difficulty cleaning your retainer well, contact your dentist for help. Your retainer may need to be cleaned with a special ultrasound machine. If there is too much plaque on your retainer for the ultrasound machine to remove, you may need to buy a new retainer.

Warnings

• Mouthwashes that contain alcohol can break and crack some types of retainers. It is recommended to refresh your retainer only occasionally.
• Never use multipurpose cleaners and bleach to clean your retainer. They are not only toxic but can also damage the metal and acrylic parts of the retainer.
• Do not put your retainer in the dishwasher or soak it in hot water, as this can deform and shrink the plastic
• Do not wrap the retainer in a tissue or handkerchief as it may stick to it and / or someone might think it is some kind of rubbish.
• Do not use a tablet-based denture cleaner on a regular basis. They are too strong to clean the retainer and may yellow the plastic or acrylic parts of the retainer.

What do you need

• Retainer
• Vinegar
• A glass or other container that would hold a retainer filled with vinegar
• Toothbrush
• Warm water