How to Clean a Retainer | Cleaning Tips to Prevent Bad Breath

Yes, you read that right, you can use Quick n Brite to clean your retainer! The formula is non-toxic and safe, and does a great job of removing tea and coffee stains or white deposits from retainers.

 Retainers are a word that instantly makes teens cringe and parents check their pocket books. However, for many people braces are a necessity and wearing a retainer afterwards is just a way of life. Retainers take on a lot of accidental abuse; everyone has fished at least one retainer out of the garbage can, and in worst case scenarios, even out of the toilet. If your retainer finds itself in a germy situation, disinfecting and cleaning your retainer is a must to keep a healthy, happy mouth. Your retainer should also be thoroughly cleaned weekly to prevent bad breath, gum disease and other negative side effects.

Regular Maintenance 

Your retainer can be cleaned with a soft bristled toothbrush and toothpaste and should ideally be cleaned every time you brush your teeth. Just put a dab of toothpaste on your retainer and use your toothbrush to scrub the retainer, then rinse with warm water. 

Deep Cleaning & Disinfecting

Even with regular maintenance your retainer is constantly exposed to food particles, germs in your saliva and other airborne particulates that enter your mouth. Overtime, many retainers are stained from coffee, or get white deposits that are hard to get off. To prevent these things from building up and staining it is a good idea to deep clean your retainer when you start to notice even a build-up or "bad" taste. It is never a good idea to boil your retainer in water, although that will kill bacteria, it can also melt the plastic and cause your retainer to fit incorrectly. It is also not a good idea to soak your retainer in mouthwash, as the alcohol in mouthwashes can cause the retainer to crack or break, the same goes for using denture cleaner on a retainer, it is much too harsh for the brittle plastic. Instead, use Quick n Brite to deep clean your retainer, the formula is non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals, yet will remove tea and coffee stains and other build-up from your retainers without having to worry about harming them or ingesting chemicals.

Start by mixing 1 teaspoon of Quick n Brite liquid to 1 cup of hot water. Let the retainer soak in the solution for 15 minutes, then use a toothbrush to quickly scrub the retainer. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and your retainer will be clean and rid of germs. This quick step can help prolong the life of your retainer and prevent any germ build-up which can cause illnesses.