If you’ve spent any time in an orthodontist’s office, then you’ll definitely know all about the teeth-perfecting appliance we’re diving into today. That’s right, we are talking about retainers, or aligners, whichever teeth cage you’ve got lurking in your life right now.
Although they’re the last step on your journey to a flawless smile, they’re probably the most important one. This is how you maintain the teeth you’ve worked so hard for, and the last thing you’ll want to do is mess this up. Because here’s the thing, retainers are actually pretty high maintenance. You don’t want to put a germ-ridden piece of slimy plastic in your mouth every day, you’ve got to clean it.
So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty and talk about how to keep your retainer or aligner in tip-top shape. (This also applies to dentures and mouthguards!)
A soft bristled toothbrush is your new best friend for retainer cleaning.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your retainer, aligner or mouth guard every time you brush your teeth. All you have to do is gently brush away food, plaque or whatever else you might find in there. When choosing a toothpaste for a denture cleaner, be sure to find a non-whitening brand, as they can damage the plastic over time. Avoid hard-bristles as a mouth guard cleaner as well, as they can damage the material. And who wants to put down the cash on a new one? Not us!
Give em’ a mouthwash bath.
Mouthwash is great as a retainer cleaner. Although cleaning with toothpaste is good, you have to do a more intense cleaning at least once a week. You don’t need anything special. The mouthwash collecting dust on your bathroom counter should do, as long as it doesn’t have any alcohol in it. All you have to do is dunk those bad boys in the mouth wash for 2-3 minutes, rinse them with cold water and wa-la! A simple mouth guard cleaner that will leave your breath fresh, clean and totally ready for a hot date or meeting with your boss.
Retainer Cleaners for the win.
These are hands down the best for giving your retainer, aligner or dentures a deep, satisfying clean you can feel. Retainer cleaners are made to do one thing in particular – clean your retainers! And they do their job very well.
One of our favorites is Zengate Retainer and Denture Cleaner Tablets. They are professional-grade tablets that you can get right off Amazon. Just dissolve one of the tablets in warm water, pop your retainers in and wait 15 minutes. They’ll come out looking as good as new! Not only do they boast an impressive list of odor-fighting and cleaning ingredients, they also have the product reviews to back their claims. With over 2000 five-star reviews on Amazon, you can’t go wrong when you choose Zengate.
Spray away those germs.
If you’re the kind of person that’s always on the run, boy do we have a tip for you. Let’s talk about sanitizing sprays, because they’re awesome. To use it as a denture cleaner or retainer cleaner, all you have to do is spray it down. It’s perfect for when you’re in public and don’t have time to rinse or brush. It literally takes less than 10 seconds to get a clean retainer before popping it right back into your mouth and heading on your way. Talk about a win-win!
Use your mama’s favorite deodorizer.
We all know and love baking soda. Most people probably grew up with a box of it in their fridge at all times. This is because baking soda is king when it comes to getting rid of odors. But not only can it karate kick the stink out of your mouth guard or aligner, it can help stabilize your mouth’s natural PH. Baking soda encourages a healthy microbiome in your mouth and even fights bacteria that cause cavities. It works as a retainer cleaner without using harsh or toxic chemicals. Man, mama sure knew what she was talking about when it comes to baking soda. It must be true what they say, “Mother knows best!”