The Safe and Effective Way to Clean Retainers

April 7, 2010

Q: Can a plastic Invisalign style retainer actually harbor bacteria in the plastic itself, not just contained in calculus, tartar, or plaque on the retainer? Also I’ve been using a heavy baking soda solution to soak my retainers for the past year or so. Is this in your professional opinion the best option for soaking retainers?

Thanks,
Zach S.

A:
Great question, Zach.

When you say Invisalign “style” retainer, you are referring to an over-the-teeth clear style device that holds your teeth in place after orthodontic movement of the teeth, either via conventional braces or via Invisalign itself.

The company Invisalign has its own proprietary material (a form of implantable-grade polyurethane). Its optical clarity and ability to stay clean are perhaps beyond reproach in the dental profession. It cleans up well since its outer surface is very non-porous.

But other Invisalign-like materials are more porous and may take up outside substances.

This means that whatever substance you use to clean these retainers may be held up against your teeth and gums, which can result in allergic reactions and other symptoms.

I do not recommend using baking soda as a cleaner for dental devices or as an ingredient in mouthwash. Baking soda changes the pH of the mouth and a retainer certainly has the potential to absorb the chemical and expose your gums to it.

Flu-like symptoms (like sore throat, cough, nausea) have been reported by Invisalign users (although I have never experienced these symptoms nor seen them in my patients). Whether this is due to the cleaner or the actual material (or a synergy between the two) is unknown.

Here is what I recommend to clean all types of retainers (and play it safe):

Use the least porous material available.
I think it’s best to have the least porous material possible in your mouth. Make sure it’s FDA approved.

Keep them moist!
Never let the retainers dry out, as this is when the tartar and biofilm starts bonding to the reatainers: Either it’s in your mouth or in a container of distilled water.

Use castile soap.
You can use a squirt or two of Organic castile soap to the water you soak the retainer in. The main ingredients of castile soap are olive oil and coconut oil and castile soap does a wonderful job cleaning retainers while not exposing them to any harmful substances.

Do it the old-fashioned way.
Brush your retainers with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

In the mean time I’m looking for and experimenting with newer methods as this is currently a big problem that is not resolved.

Mark Burhenne DDS

What’s your favorite way to clean your retainers/dentures/Invisalign aligners?

Share your suggestions by leaving a comment below!


{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Rachel April 13, 2010 at 7:55 pm

I had a retainer but then I got diagnosised with TMJ so I wear that instead, but when I got my bite guard, they told me to buy cheap mouthwash and let it soak in there, it cleans it.
Also once a week I’ll wash it with a toothbrush and tooth paste. Its crystal clear now

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2 Anonymous April 2, 2012 at 8:33 pm

What is the mouthwash called bc my retainer is cloudy

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3 Johanna Smith November 5, 2010 at 5:59 am

this has been very helpful to me. I have found that using baking soda does weaken my gums.

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4 Sophie December 13, 2010 at 6:35 am

I’ve just had my retainers fitted

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5 gabriela March 6, 2011 at 12:39 pm

I thought i lost my retainers but i found them, should i keep them or get new ones tey look dried out.

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6 Ask the Dentist March 6, 2011 at 9:52 pm

@ gabriela,
Soak them in clean water for 7 days, then try them in. That should make them expand a bit. If they fit without forcing them over your teeth, then wear them. Show your dentist the retainers next time you go in for your scheduled cleaning and check up. Nice job finding them!

Mark Burhenne DDS

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7 Michelle May 3, 2011 at 1:46 pm

I cant find a way to keep my retainers clean… :( can someone help?

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8 Anonymous June 15, 2011 at 10:34 pm

I found a product online called dentasoak

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9 Jane Carlson April 25, 2012 at 10:37 am

I use PowerDent Pulse. Its amazing! http://www.powerdentpulse.com/products/multibrush/

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10 Melissa June 15, 2011 at 10:17 pm

My son just received his retainer today. Although it is not a post braces retainer, it is to correct over bite and correct his habit of pushing the back of his top teeth with his tongue before he gets braces. Although my son is 10 and is good at caring for things his father is not. He has to spend 42 days with him in the summer. I have already ordered a dentasoak starter kit but in the mean time what toothpaste is safe to use on his retainer? He currently uses Pronamel Bengal whitening toothpaste and a mentadent toothbrush on his teeth. Does he need to use a separate toothbrush for his retainer?

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11 Melissa June 15, 2011 at 10:31 pm

My daughter had a fixed palatal crib placed today. Although she is doing well with it her’s unlike the ones I saw online has metal prongs hanging from it making it easy for food build up. Can anyone suggest a good toothbrush for this appliance? She also uses Pronamel gental whitening toothpaste, even though the appliance is all metal it is cemented in will this toothpaste cause us any undue problems?

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12 alyssa August 2, 2011 at 5:55 am

No its most likey similar to braces so no toothpaste should damage it

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13 Erin July 30, 2011 at 12:56 pm

i got my retainer a few days ago and it’s basically an invisaline but my orthodontist told me not to use a toothbrush and toothpaste because it can scratch it and make it more prone to cracking

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14 Roberto Zeidan August 10, 2011 at 9:35 am

Loving your website! I hope that you continue to write amazing posts like this in the future so people like me can adore it! I absolutely will be coming back to read more.

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15 Ask the Dentist August 10, 2011 at 10:19 am

Glad to hear you’re finding the site useful, Roberto!

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16 Chelsea August 17, 2011 at 10:47 am

I just got my braces off 5 days ago, and now I wear a retainer. My orthodontists never mentioned anything about cleaning them. I thought a toothbrush and toothpaste would scratch them, so I’m not sure what to use. Could you help?

Thanks

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17 Anonymous January 5, 2012 at 7:46 pm

My orthidontist said to brush it with water as soon as I take it off. But I have been doing some research and Viniger is supposed to get off any stains. If you want to find out about how to use Viniger just google it and they will give you all the information you need.

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18 America October 28, 2011 at 4:00 pm

I just got my braces off yesterday and they gave me a retainer, but they didn’t tell me how to clean it or if I should soak it in water when I’m not wearing it. What’s the right way to clean it so it won’t smell and won’t be dirty? And what do I do with it when I’m not wearing it so it won’t dry up?

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19 Mr. Fisherpus December 7, 2011 at 12:01 pm

My retainer seems to easily catch bad smelling stuff. I use toothbrush and toothpaste to clean it, but I don’t want to have to clean it after every time I eat something. Is there any efficient way to clean it and do I need a separate toothbrush for my retainer?

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20 Melissa December 10, 2011 at 6:12 pm

Don’t use toothpaste or a tooth brush for a plastic retainer; it can scratch the plastic.

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21 Allison Lindsey December 27, 2011 at 5:17 pm

So, I had my retainer stole years ago, when I got it back it wouldn’t fit and the orthodontist said I needed braces again that a retainer wouldn’t fix it, my teeth are terrible, about what they were before the three years of braces I had before the retainers that were stolen. So I was looking into invisalign, but I work for room and board and it doens’t look as though I’ll be able to find other work anytime soon, is there a at home product of some kind that I can use that I don’t need a dentist or orthodontist for? You know something to just get started on getting them moved some, without killing my tounge and muscles pushing on them? I know I need a dentist to have them all straight, but I just want them non crowded enough to clean them well for the time, till I have the money and means for braces again or invisalign…any suggestions?

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22 Anonymous April 20, 2012 at 4:53 pm

My orthodontist said not to use toothpaste to clean a retainer because it makes them go cloudy

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23 Anonymous April 21, 2012 at 2:39 pm

but if you use toothpaste it turns the retainers cloudy!!!

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24 Anonymous April 28, 2012 at 9:11 pm

VINEGAR !!!!! Seriously this works so amazing ! Soak them in there for the whole day then rinse them off with warm water && then brush them with toothpaste ! I. Do this everytime ! :)

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