The last yet most important step in an orthodontic treatment is to wear a retainer. Contrary to what everyone thinks, your teeth are not fixed in place in your jaw. This means they can slowly move around, regardless of your age. In fact, this is how a dentist in Sterling Heights can get your teeth into a better position.

Wearing a retainer will prevent your teeth from staying out of the alignment you just spent money and time moving them into.

It is for this reason that you should keep your retainer undamaged and clean. This way, it will function properly and won’t cause any oral problem. Also, a fresh-smelling, clean retainer is more pleasant to place in your mouth.

It may seem like your retainer will only need a quick daily rinse, but Dr. Farhat emphasizes that this is not enough to keep it bacteria-free. Here is a guide to cleaning your retainers effectively.

Get the Right Tools

You will need a toothbrush apart from the one you use on your teeth because you have to use soap to clean your retainers, not toothpaste. You can opt for a brush designed to clean dentures, which is quite bigger.

Also, you must have a liquid soap – you can use antibacterial hand soap or a dishwashing liquid. Denture cleaners work great as well, but they are costly.

Use the Right Technique

Here is the best way to clean your retainers:

Step 1: Put a bit of soap on your toothbrush and add water (preferably lukewarm) to make lather.

Step 2: Place your retainer in your hand. Gently scrub its surfaces using the soapy brush.

Step 3: Rinse your retainer thoroughly to remove all the soap film. This ensures that you won’t have a soapy taste once you put back your retainer.  

The fresh-smelling, clean retainer can either be placed back into your mouth or stored in its case. When storing your dental appliance, make sure to place it away from your pets and even from heat.

What not to do?

When it comes to cleaning or disinfecting a retainer, a Sterling Heights dentist says it is possible that you go overboard. For instance, you may think that using boiled water is a better option. But this can distort your retainer. Remember that your retainer was specifically made to perfectly fit your teeth; thus, maintaining its shape is vital.

Using bleach is not advisable as well. This can give your retainer an unpleasant odor and degrade its plastic base. You should not even use the regular toothpaste since this contains abrasive particles that will create tiny nooks where bacteria can hide and thrive.

Keeping your retainer clean and fresh with the right tools and technique is crucial to staying on the path toward a pearly white, healthy smile.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office!