How to Clean a Permanent (Bonded) Retainer

A permanent retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth, usually the lower ones. It keeps teeth from shifting without any effort from you, but because it cannot be removed, it is a place where plaque and tartar love to collect. Cleaning around it takes a little technique.

Brushing

Brush the wire and the teeth behind it the same way you brush everything else, but angle the brush so the bristles get between the wire and the gum line. A small-headed brush or an electric brush with a compact head makes this easier.

Flossing

Regular floss cannot pass under the wire from the top, so you need a floss threader or floss with a stiff end. Thread it under the wire, floss each side of the tooth, then move to the next gap. It feels slow at first and becomes quick with practice.

Small interdental brushes also work well for cleaning between the wire and the teeth.

Water flossers

A water flosser directs a stream of water around the wire and is the easiest way to flush out debris. It does not replace flossing, but it makes the daily routine faster.

Watch for tartar

Hard, chalky deposits around the wire are tartar, and they can only be removed by a dental hygienist. Regular cleanings matter more when you have a bonded retainer.

If you also wear a removable retainer

Many people have a bonded retainer on the lower teeth and a removable one on the upper. Keep the removable one clean with rinsing, gentle brushing and a soak with our retainer cleaner tablets or a cycle in an ultrasonic retainer cleaner, so that the two retainers do not share bacteria back and forth.

This article is general care information and is not medical advice. Follow the instructions from your dentist, orthodontist or the maker of your appliance.