Retainers are key to keeping your smile perfect after Invisalign, or braces. You’ll need to wear one for the rest of your life while you sleep so your teeth have a defense against the natural shifting that will occur. It’s important to clean your retainers daily or weekly to expand the lifespan. Here’s how to sanitize a retainer!
It’s important to know how to sanitize a retainer because daily bacteria will grow on them after each use. No matter how much you brush your teeth or clean your mouth with mouthwash, there will still be tiny particles of leftover food and bacteria on your teeth. When these particles latch onto your retainer, bacteria will start to grow. It can be very gross. You’ll start to notice the bacteria with white or yellow spots. The clear material will change really quickly to a yellow, brown, or white shade.
If you don’t keep them sanitized, the material will begin to weaken or you can get sick from having it in your mouth. The bacteria will get into your mouth and then cause you to grow ill. First, let’s determine which method you want to use for how to sanitize a retainer. We have three different methods, each suited for deep cleaning to remove all the bacteria, expand the lifespan, and keep you from getting sick!
The first method we are showcasing is a natural method. There won’t be any chemicals involved. You can find these products in your household or buy them at your local supermarket. One of the best cleaning solutions for how to sanitize a retainer is vinegar! Have a clean glass cup and fill it halfway with warm water. Pour vinegar into the water to make a 50/50 solution. Place your retainer into the natural cleaning solution and let it soak for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove your retainer from the natural cleaning solution and wash thoroughly. You don’t want that vinegar taste on your retainer! Vinegar is great for natural cleaning retainers but can leave the retainer with a strong odor or weird taste, so wash your retainer for two minutes in warm running water and scrub with a clean soft-bristled toothbrush gently. Make sure it’s a soft-bristled brush and not hard bristles as those can damage the material with micro scratches. There’s your first method on how to sanitize a retainer!
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If you are looking for a chemical way on how to sanitize a retainer, we have that too! These solutions are over-the-counter and are created to chemically clean and remove bacteria. You’ll want to rinse your plastic retainer off in a stream of warm water, but make sure the water isn’t too hot, or else it can affect the material. We recommend Fresh Guard cleaning solution that comes in packets. Tear open the packet and pour the solution into the warm water. The solution will foam up and turn blue signaling that it’s ready. Place your retainer fully submerged for five minutes. Do not soak your retainer for more than ten minutes.
After five minutes, remove the retainer and softly brush it with your soft-bristle toothbrush rubbing the solution on it. Scrub it for about a minute before washing it under a stream of warm water and that’s the best way if you want to purchase cleaning solutions on how to sanitize a retainer.
We have a premium method for those retainers that are on the brink of disgusting that could bring them back to life as well as a great way to give retainers an easy and daily cleaning. Ultra Sonic Cleaners for retainers are an excellent way to remove bacteria. You can do this once a week or daily. SportingSmiles is currently offering a FREE Ultra Sonic Cleaner for customers who place a subscription order or a subscription reorder for retainers.
This Ultra Sonic Retainer Cleaner uses UV lights to disinfect the retainer while it cleans it. The steady vibrations help loosen any bacteria or particles on the retainer giving it a cleaning like none other. Ultra Sonic Cleaners like this typically cost anywhere from $60 – $110 but you can get it free with a subscription from SportingSmiles.
You now have three ways on how to sanitize a retainer. Naturally, Chemically, and premium. Choose which solution best suits you and keep your retainer sparkling! The time will come when you need a new set of retainers, and SportingSmiles can help replace your old ones.
