How To Clean Retainers

You've just received the good news from your orthodontist that your braces are ready to come off. Congratulations! After putting in the time, effort, and investment to perfect your smile, there's no doubt you're excited to show it off. But perhaps you've also learned you'll need to wear a retainer once your braces come off as a final step to permanently aligning your smile. There's still plenty of cause for celebration. A retainer is much less noticeable and easier to take care of than braces. Regardless of which type of retainer you get, you'll want to make sure you know how to properly care for it. Let's go over the best way to clean retainers, no matter the type you get.

How Do Retainers Work?

Orthodontic treatment uses gentle pressure to move teeth, adjust jaw growth, and retrain mouth muscles. Orthodontia devices can be either fixed or removable. An example of a fixed appliance is braces. In contrast, retainers can be either fixed or removable. You'll wear your retainer on the roof of your mouth or over your teeth, and it will do the critical job of making sure your teeth, which were already corrected by braces, don't shift back to their original position.

An orthodontist cements a fixed retainer to the backs of your teeth. While the two most common types of removable retainers, the Hawley and the Essix, you can remove from your mouth on your own. If you're getting a fixed retainer, you'll be cleaning it like you would clean your mouth during your regular rigorous oral care routine. You should brush your fixed retainer when you brush your teeth. Use floss threaders to clean the spaces between your teeth and metal. If you've already had braces, then you should be used to floss threaders!

But when determining how to clean your removable retainer, the first step is to identify which retainer you have:

Hawley Retainers

A Hawley retainer is molded to fit the roof of your mouth and stabilize your teeth after orthodontic treatment. The plastic and metal used to make this type of retainer are susceptible to heat distortion and impact damage, so it's essential to handle your Hawley retainer with care. Make sure to clean it daily to remove bacteria and food particles. However, avoid rinsing it with hot water or exposing it to heat. Instead, clean your retainer by gently brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush under cool to lukewarm water. You should also periodically soak it in a cleaning solution similar to a denture cleanser. And when you're not using it, we recommend that you store your retainer in its protective case.

Essix Retainers

An Essix retainer is a transparent plastic covering your teeth, making it less noticeable than other retainers. Like the Hawley retainer, the removable Essix retainer is explicitly molded to your unique mouth and keep your teeth straight and aligned following orthodontic treatment. But did you know that they're also used as an alternative to braces? If you're instructed to wear your Essix retainer while you sleep, it's best to rinse it with cool water at night before putting it in your mouth, then rinse it again when you remove it. And if you're instructed to wear your Essix retainer when you eat, use a soft toothbrush to gently clean it after every meal.

Drinking liquids other than water while wearing your Essix retainer, especially colored beverages like coffee, red wine, and tea, may cause staining. And don't brush your retainer with toothpaste, as its abrasive ingredients may scratch it. Like the Hawley retainer, we suggest keeping your Essix retainer away from hot water, as it may cause shrinking. Beyond the daily care of your Essix retainer, we recommend washing it with a special cleaner every two to three months. Your orthodontist will recommend the appropriate cleaning solution.

Keeping Retainers Clean

Just like on the surfaces and in the cracks of your teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar can collect on your retainer too. Sticky and colorless, plaque is a film of bacteria and sugars that is the primary source of cavities and gum disease if left to settle on your teeth. If not removed with an excellent oral care routine, plaque may harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional.

Brush at least two times each day to remove plaque from your teeth. Complement that with interdental cleaning to reach the areas between your teeth and along your gumline. Limiting your intake of starch, sugar, and sticky foods can help reduce plaque buildup too. And keeping up with your regular dental checkups gives you a chance to have any remaining plaque or tartar professionally removed. It's all about the little things we do each day that add up to more significant results. By learning how to clean a retainer and care for your teeth daily, you're doing everything you can to maintain a perfectly aligned, cavity-free smile!