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How to Clean Retainers?

Simple And Easy Way to Clean A Retainer Inexpensively Using Hydrogen Peroxide

As you wear your retainer plaque and bacteria will inevitably build up on the retainer. Sometimes the bacteria will also be in the retainer case - so make sure you clean the case as well from time to time.

To clean the dental retainer just get a container of some kind - a small bowl, or small plastic box - just big enough for the retainer, and then pour over and cover the retainer with a 3-5% hydrogen peroxide. Use enough hydrogen peroxide to completely cover the retainer.

You can leave the retainer in the solution for 30 ms or so. The Hydrogen Peroxide will kill off all the bacteria. Just rinse it well with water, and you are good to go.

When you are ready to use the retainer again, just rinse it off with water. Throw away the hydrogen peroxide solution, or dilute it and feed it to your plants. (See the gardening section of this site, or see this page for dilution charts for feeding your plants.) Some of oxidation potential of the hydrogen peroxide will have been used up by sanitizing your retainer, so it is not as strong as it was initially, but probably still has some power left in it.

You can also do the same with store purchased retainer cleaning agents, such as Retainer Brite, SonicBrite, Denta Clean, RetainerFresh or other similar products. Each product has specific instructions. Many of the solutions say to not leave them soaking longer than the specified time and do not let your retainers soak all day. Take out the retainers from the solution and again rinse your retainer again with fresh running water.

If you do wear your retainer day and night, make sure you still clean the retainer in the solution or hydrogen peroxide at least once a day. In between cleanings, you can always just rinse your retainers after meals, for example. If you are away from home, in an emergency you can use toothpaste to clean them. Just rinse off.

If your retainer just does not want to stay clean, you can always take it into your orthodontist who will have a professional cleaning machine.