
The mixture should be thick enough to stick to the retainer. To use baking soda, people should create a paste that is half water and half baking soda. Baking soda controls bacteria without harsh chemicals and can prevent a retainer from developing pH imbalances that harm the mouth. It may also help whiten retainers that have yellowed. Share on Pinterest Baking soda can be used as a disinfectant that can control bacteria without harming the mouth.īaking soda is a safe, all-purpose disinfectant. If the retainer tastes like denture cleaner afterward, rinsing should continue until it no longer does. After taking it out, they should then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush. To clean with denture cleaner, people should rinse the retainer and then allow it to soak in the denture cleaner for about 20 minutes. Over time, however, denture cleaner can turn a retainer yellow.

It is safe to clean a retainer with denture cleaner, from time to time, particularly if no other option is available. People should brush their teeth again after removing the retainer, to clean any areas covered by it. Afterward, remove the retainer and rinse it thoroughly. It is best to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-whitening toothpaste. When brushing teeth, people should brush their retainer as well. If there is nothing available to store the retainer in, or if the retainer is dirty and cannot be cleaned right away, a person can soak it in a damp paper towel, until they can clean it. Instead, soak a retainer in distilled water, any time it is removed. As a result, people should not allow this to happen, especially overnight. Retainers that dry out are more prone to damage.

People should take their retainer out before enjoying a sugary drink and before eating anything. Soda and other sugary drinks can affect a retainer, just as they affect the teeth. If a retainer feels dirty, a person can try swishing some water in their mouth a few times. Water also combats a dry mouth, which is linked to tooth decay. Keeping a retainer moist will help prevent damage. Water will not clean a retainer on its own, but drinking plenty of water during the day can prevent bacteria overgrowth.

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Here are eight tips for people to make sure their retainers are clean and free from bacteria. Share on Pinterest A soft-bristled toothbrush should be used when brushing the retainer and it should be removed and rinsed after.
