How to Clean a Retainer: A Simple Daily and Weekly Routine

A retainer sits in your mouth for hours at a time, so it picks up the same film that builds on your teeth. Left alone, that film hardens, turns cloudy and starts to smell. A short routine keeps a retainer clear and comfortable.

Every day

Rinse your retainer with cool or lukewarm water as soon as you take it out. Rinsing before saliva dries makes everything else easier. Brush it gently with a soft brush and plain water or a mild, non-abrasive soap. Let it dry before it goes back in its case, and rinse the case too.

A few times a week

Brushing does not reach every groove. A soak or an ultrasonic cycle loosens what a brush leaves behind. You can drop a retainer cleaner tablet into a cup of warm water and soak the retainer, or run it through an ultrasonic retainer cleaner with water for a few minutes. Rinse well afterwards.

What to avoid

• Hot or boiling water, which can warp plastic retainers and aligners.

• Regular toothpaste on clear retainers. Many toothpastes are abrasive and leave fine scratches that hold on to buildup.

• Bleach and harsh household cleaners.

• Leaving a retainer out to dry with saliva on it.

When to ask your orthodontist

If your retainer is cracked, no longer fits, or has hard white deposits that do not come off with cleaning, check with your orthodontist or dentist. This article is general care information and is not a substitute for their advice.