Cleaning your retainer is every bit as important as wearing one every day. Otherwise, nasty buildup and bacteria could find itself inside of the retainer. Retainers need to be cleaned every day, and luckily, there are products that make doing this simple. In this article, we will discuss the answers to the question, “how to clean my Invisalign retainer?”
1. Retainer Brite
Retainer Brite is a tablet that fizzes and kills all of the bacteria on your retainer. It also helps to stop the buildup of white plaque. Every tablet is sealed individually with foil which makes it easy for you to take Retainer Brite along with you when you travel or go to work.
In order to use this product, all that you have to do is drop one of the tablets into some warm tap water. After it has begun to dissolve and fizz, you can put the retainer inside of it for around 15 minutes. Then, just rinse it off with warm water.
2. SonicBrite
SonicBrite is a powder that cleans your retainers. It comes complete with a top quality sonic cleaner in its packaging. This product is strong and therefore able to kill bacteria with ease. It is also great at removing white plaque buildup.
Measure out one spoonful of the powder. Then, put it into the sonic cleaner with some warm tap water. Put the retainer into the liquid and turn it on. It will run for around 15 minutes. Once the SonicBrite has finished running its cycle, you can take the retainer out. Then, you can rinse it off with warm water.
3. DentaSoak
DentaSoak is a cold water-based cleaner; you won’t need to heat up your water before using this option. It is also highly economic because you can mix it up one time and use the solution again and again for an entire week. This product is ideal for cleaning off any kind of retainer.
All it takes to clean your retainer with this retainer cleaner is a 15-minute soak in the solution. This solution can also clean out any white plaque that has stubbornly built up on the retainer. It does not use any sort of allergens like persulfates that others may use.
4. Cleanse Freshen Go
The Cleanse Freshen Go is a great choice for those who take their retainers out a lot. If you want to take the retainer on the go for a day trip and keep it clean. This is a great option that is ideal for those times when you need to clean your retainer but do not have access to any clean water.
Simply wipe down the inside and the outside of your retainer with the Cleanse Freshen Go wipes. This company also makes a retainer spray for cleaning on the go as well. Neither of these products contains persulfates.
5. OAP Cleaner
OAP Cleaner is another retainer cleaner that is free from persulfates. This cleaner is able to clean up to 99.9 percent of bacteria on the retainer. It is clear from bacteria in as little as 60 seconds. OAP Cleaner is available in two different forms: foam and gel. The foam is better for clear Invisalign retainers, though, because it can easily get into all of the crevices and cracks.
Simply apply the foam onto the retainer and allow it to sit for a moment. After that, just wipe it down and rinse it of before using it again.
6. Brush With a Soft Toothbrush
At home, you can choose to brush the retainer with a soft toothbrush. Use just a little bit of non-abrasive standard toothpaste that has no whitening properties in it. You can also use dishwashing detergent. Whatever you choose, brush it gently with a soft bristle toothbrush. This can help keep your retainer clean without having to go get any additional products.
The downside to this is that it will not get rid of any bacteria and will not prevent the formation of white plaque. Do not use baking soda-based toothpastes on your Invisalign retainer as it will erode it and make it cloudy.
7. Vinegar and Water Soak
A vinegar and water soak will help do the trick with existing household items. Simply mix together an equal part of water and white distilled vinegar. Let the warm mixture sit in a cup and put the retainer in it. You will want to let it soak for anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Once it is done, take it out and brush it gently with a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Then, rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
Vinegar is able to kill a few different germs so this will help. It is worth mentioning that your retainer might have a strange taste when you’re done.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide and Water Soak
Mix together warm water and hydrogen peroxide in a dish. Make sure that there are equal parts of both. Soak the retainer in this hydrogen peroxide solution for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time. After that time period has passed, then take the retainer out of the water. Once it is out, be sure to rinse it thoroughly with warm, clean running water.
After making sure that the retainer is dry, you can put it back in your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide can get rid of some bacteria yet it is not effective at getting rid of white plaque buildup.
Conclusion
There are a number of ways for you to clean your retainer. Some are store-bought products while others are something that you can make and use at home. In our article, we detailed the different products you can use to clean the retainer and how to use them, answering the question, “how to clean my Invisalign retainer?” Do you have a favorite product that we have missed? Tell us about it in the comments section found below.
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