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people with retainers - how do you clean them?

S

Special K

Diamond Member
I have a retainer that I received in 1996 after I got my braces off. The only directions they gave me for cleaning it was to use Lava soap with a denture brush. Over the years, plaque has formed and hardened on the retainers. The Lava soap just wasn't getting this stuff off. I assumed it was just part of owning the retainer, and it wasn't possible to get it completely clean.

I did a quick google search and am finding that people are using denture cleaners like Efferdent or specialized retainer cleaners such as SonicBrite, RetainerFresh, and Retainer Brite. Has anyone here used any of these special products to clean your retainers? Do they work? Does anyone have any homemade formulas that work well?

Is it even possible to get my retainer completely clean again, given that it is so old? I really don't want to buy a new one, but it would be nice to get this one clean again if possible. I called my orthodontist's office and they said to try Efferdent. They weren't familiar with any of the special products listed above, or any homemade formulas. I tried the Efferdent tablets and they didn't do anything. Scraping the plaque off of the retainers isn't really an option since I don't want to scratch the plastic retainer.
 
I stopped wearing mine because I hated cleaning it. 😛 More than 10 years later now and my teeth more or less look perfectly straight. Although my middle bottom two have rotated towards each other a little, you can only tell if you look straight down on them. I'm sure other people are less lucky than me.
 
I tried some efferdent with mine and it didn't seem to do anything.

Occasionally I'll brush it with toothpaste and toothbrush but in general I keep it in a cup that's filled with a water and mouthwash solution 😛
 
When I used to have one I used something like Efferdent, one of those tablets you dissolve in water. Just do that, then give it a little scrub with a toothbrush and you're good to go.

KT
 
Originally posted by: KeithTalent
When I used to have one I used something like Efferdent, one of those tablets you dissolve in water. Just do that, then give it a little scrub with a toothbrush and you're good to go.

KT
Click to expand...

As I said in the OP, I tried Efferdent already and it didn't do anything. That plaque must really be caked on there.
 
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
Click to expand...

The orthodontist gave me a wearing schedule in which I would wear it progressively less each 6 months. After reducing the wearing time several times, I am now down to wearing it one night a week, and it says to do that indefinitely to prevent my teeth from moving around.
 
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: OdiN
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
Click to expand...

The orthodontist gave me a schedule for the next several years in which I would wear it progressively less each 6 months. I am down to wearing it one night a week, and it says to do that indefinitely to prevent my teeth from moving around.
Click to expand...

This seems ridiculous. My teeth haven't moved around one bit.

Well my lower teeth have a little, but I only had an upper retainer.
 
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
My dentist would clean it in their ultrasonic cleaner.
Click to expand...

this.

if the plaque on it has hardened into a tartar then efferdent or any of that probably won't get it off.

the next time you go to the dentist bring your retainer and ask if they'd put it in the ultrasonic cleaner for you. they should oblige.
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: OdiN
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
Click to expand...

The orthodontist gave me a schedule for the next several years in which I would wear it progressively less each 6 months. I am down to wearing it one night a week, and it says to do that indefinitely to prevent my teeth from moving around.
Click to expand...

This seems ridiculous. My teeth haven't moved around one bit.

Well my lower teeth have a little, but I only had an upper retainer.
Click to expand...

Different for different people. I've had mine for like 8 years and wear it once a week. It is still very tight when I put it on each week and the next morning I can really tell my teeth have moved. I'll be stuck with it for life it seems.
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: OdiN
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
Click to expand...

The orthodontist gave me a schedule for the next several years in which I would wear it progressively less each 6 months. I am down to wearing it one night a week, and it says to do that indefinitely to prevent my teeth from moving around.
Click to expand...

This seems ridiculous. My teeth haven't moved around one bit.

Well my lower teeth have a little, but I only had an upper retainer.
Click to expand...

Most Orthodontists I know place a cemented (permanent) retainer on the back of the lower anterior teeth after braces. Teeth tend to want to move throughout life and that prevents what happened to you.

Also, I agree with popping the upper retainer (and lower if you have it) in over night periodically to keep things in check.
 
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: OdiN
Dude....you got it in 1996??

Why are you even still wearing it?

I had one for like 2 years after getting braces, but I stopped wearing it after that.
Click to expand...

The orthodontist gave me a schedule for the next several years in which I would wear it progressively less each 6 months. I am down to wearing it one night a week, and it says to do that indefinitely to prevent my teeth from moving around.
Click to expand...

This seems ridiculous. My teeth haven't moved around one bit.

Well my lower teeth have a little, but I only had an upper retainer.
Click to expand...

Most Orthodontists I know place a cemented (permanent) retainer on the back of the lower anterior teeth after braces. Teeth tend to want to move throughout life and that prevents what happened to you.

Also, I agree with popping the upper retainer (and lower if you have it) in over night periodically to keep things in check.
Click to expand...

Too much of an inconvenience and annoyance to be worth it. My upper teeth are still perfectly straight and most of the movement in my lower teeth is due to wisdom teeh pushing their way in. It's not really bad at all.
 
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
My dentist would clean it in their ultrasonic cleaner.
Click to expand...

this.

if the plaque on it has hardened into a tartar then efferdent or any of that probably won't get it off.

the next time you go to the dentist bring your retainer and ask if they'd put it in the ultrasonic cleaner for you. they should oblige.
Click to expand...

The ultrasonic cleaner is that really high-pitched pencil-looking tool that they use to clean your teeth during a regular visit, right? I never even thought of that. That's a good idea. I'll call my dentist today or tomorrow and see if they can fit me in to get my retainer cleaned. Hopefully they won't charge me if that's all I need.
 
I had one after my braces were off a few years ago but I only wore it for a few months then it got nasty and I got sick of wearing it. I just did toothpaste, and obviously that didn't work.
 
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
My dentist would clean it in their ultrasonic cleaner.
Click to expand...

this.

if the plaque on it has hardened into a tartar then efferdent or any of that probably won't get it off.

the next time you go to the dentist bring your retainer and ask if they'd put it in the ultrasonic cleaner for you. they should oblige.
Click to expand...

The ultrasonic cleaner is that really high-pitched pencil-looking tool that they use to clean your teeth during a regular visit, right? I never even thought of that. That's a good idea. I'll call my dentist today or tomorrow and see if they can fit me in to get my retainer cleaned. Hopefully they won't charge me if that's all I need.
Click to expand...

No, it's this one. We put instruments into it to debride them with ultrasonic movement before they go in the autoclave (sterilizer).

 
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
My dentist would clean it in their ultrasonic cleaner.
Click to expand...

this.

if the plaque on it has hardened into a tartar then efferdent or any of that probably won't get it off.

the next time you go to the dentist bring your retainer and ask if they'd put it in the ultrasonic cleaner for you. they should oblige.
Click to expand...

The ultrasonic cleaner is that really high-pitched pencil-looking tool that they use to clean your teeth during a regular visit, right? I never even thought of that. That's a good idea. I'll call my dentist today or tomorrow and see if they can fit me in to get my retainer cleaned. Hopefully they won't charge me if that's all I need.
Click to expand...

No, it's this one. We put instruments into it to debride them with ultrasonic movement before they go in the autoclave (sterilizer).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I took them to the dentist today and they did what you said, and now the retainers look brand new again :thumbsup:
 
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