Cleaning your retainer is one of the ultimate ways to extend its lifespan. Keeping the bacteria off it and maintaining a crystal clear appearance will go a long way in keeping the retainer sturdy as well as keeping you healthy. Brushing your retainer is one of the most common ways, but if done incorrectly, it can severely damage the material. We’ve put together the best tips on how to brush retainer.
Retainers should be worn every day, especially at night while you sleep. Wearing one will give you the ultimate defense against teeth shifting as the retainer tricks your teeth into believing they are in the correct position after you’ve had them professionally shifted by a dentist with aligners or braces. The more you wear a retainer, the better, but the more you wear it, the more bacteria will be transferred onto it. Here’s how to brush retainer and keep it clean.
The first step in brushing your retainer is to get a soft-bristle toothbrush. You want to avoid a hard-bristle toothbrush, sponge, or anything else. When you use those, they cause micro-scratches on the material, which make for excellent breeding fields for bacteria because it’s almost impossible to clean those areas. If you notice yellow, white, or cloudy spots on your retainer, it may be too late. How to brush your retainer starts with getting a soft-bristle brush.
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Once you have a soft-bristle brush you want to have the correct cleaning solution. This is another key to cleaning it. If you use mouthwash with alcohol, it can actually dry out the material that the retainer is made from and make it brittle. Instead, you’ll want to use castile soap, retainer cleaning solutions like retainer brite, or natural cleaning agents like baking soda or vinegar. Whichever one you choose, you’ll want to soak your retainer in warm water and then mix any of those cleaning solutions into it. After 10 minutes, pick up your retainer and here’s how to brush retainer.
Gently place it in the palm of your hand and begin to scrub it softly with the brush. Don’t forcefully do it, or your retainer could crack. Make sure to get into the crevices or the retainer and clean both the inside and outside of the material. Bacteria can grow anywhere on it, so it’s best to be thorough. After five minutes of gently brushing it, stick it back into the warm water and let it soak for another five. Once it’s finished, wash it off with warm water and stick it in a protective case. These are the best ways on how to brush retainer.
Sometimes, your retainer is too far gone, and it’s disgusting. When you already notice the white, yellow, or clouding spots on the retainer, it may be too late. This means that bacteria are all over it, and it could be dangerous to put it back into your mouth. If you do, you may end up sick. It’s best to get a replacement retainer from SportingSmiles in those instances.
SportingSmiles has been crafting replacement retainers for over one million people since 2009. You can receive these crystal clear, clean retainers for hundreds of dollars less than you would from the dentist, and all from the safety and comfort of your home. The entire process is done at home with the patented impression kit, but these retainers are the same premium ones you’d get at the dentist, without the hassle.
Now that you know how to brush retainer, you should keep cleaning it daily or give it a weekly deep clean. If you don’t, it may begin to grow bacteria, which can make you sick. You’ll need to replace your retainer with a new one, which you can get from SportingSmiles!
