How to Keep Your Retainer Clean
What’s the biggest issue that how to clean retainers ? It’s probably pretty gross, right? If you don’t clean it regularly, food particles and plaque can build up on it, which can lead to bad breath and even gum disease. Cleaning your retainer correctly doesn’t take too much time, so learn how to do it right here!
How to keep your retainer clean during the day
It can be tempting to skip your retainer cleaning routine, but you should do your best to keep it clean throughout the day. If you are using a rubber retainer, it is important that you inspect it before each wearing and remove any debris that may have accumulated on its surface. After each meal or snack, soak your retainer in warm water for several minutes and use a soft toothbrush or special retainer cleaner if necessary. If you are using an acrylic (boil-and-bite) retainer, follow these steps
How to keep your retainer clean at night
Everyone is familiar with how difficult it can be to maintain healthy teeth and gums. There are a lot of additional oral health products out there like dental floss, mouthwash, etc. And then there’s your retainer. In addition to proper tooth brushing and flossing, it’s important that you also know how to keep your retainer clean at night. Below we will list a few tips on how to do just that. The same tips apply whether you have an upper or lower retainer.
How long does a cleaning last?
It all depends on how often you wear your retainer. The more you wear it, and as a result, wear down your enamel, the more often it needs to be cleaned. On average, most retainers should be replaced every 6 months. If they are worn longer than 6 months without cleaning and polishing, then that can result in pain from teeth grinding or losing teeth due to decay.
How often should you wash your retainer?
Everyone is different and should wash their retainer every day. How often you should clean your retainer depends on several factors. If you’ve got a removable retainer, that means it can be washed in soap and water daily and needs to be kept dry at all times. how to clean retainers So if your retainer is removable, make sure you store it separately from other retainers or toothbrushes So you don’t transfer bacteria from one device to another. If your retainer has been cemented into place, it doesn’t need as much attention but still needs an occasional check-up; in these cases, most dentists recommend bringing retainers back in for a professional cleaning every three months.
What happens if you don’t wear your retainer?
If you aren’t wearing your retainer as prescribed, you may end up with a problem that’s even more serious than having an appliance that won’t fit properly. Even if your mouth has adjusted to not having a retainer in it, your jaw is still developing and growing. And if you stop wearing it for long enough, there’s no guarantee it will ever feel normal when you go back to wearing it again. If your orthodontist tells you not to wear your retainer at night, make sure you don’t! Leaving it out for too long can cause permanent damage like misalignment of teeth and poor growth of bone around teeth—problems that could eventually require braces or surgery to fix.
Maintaining dental hygiene on vacation
If you know you’re going on vacation, it’s important to schedule in advance with your orthodontist. They can check your retainers and make sure they are still in place which they may not be if they get knocked around while traveling. At home, how to clean retainers maintaining good dental hygiene can make a huge difference in your overall oral health. For example, by flossing at least once a day, you can reduce your risk of gum disease by as much as 80 percent! That same kind of care is necessary when on vacation—especially since many people tend to eat more sugary snacks while traveling.
