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A Guide to Keeping Your Retainer Fresh and Clean for a Perfect
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It may surprise you to learn that keeping your retainer clean is essential for not only maintaining its lifespan but also preserving your health. Recent reports from Healthline state our mouth retainers hold dangerous bacteria like Streptococcus and the fungus Candida Albicans – both of which can cause infections or sinus issues if left unclean. To ensure proper care without taking too much time out of your day, here are some simple steps on how you can keep those pesky retainers in top condition!
Retainers are an essential part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but to ensure they last a while it's important to care for them properly.
Start by cleaning your plastic retainers each day with soft bristles - this way you can loosen up any plaque that builds up as you wear it which prevents the chance of turning into tartar down the line. Keeping the retainer clean doesn't have to be difficult!
Keep your retainer looking and feeling like new with a deep weekly clean!
Use mild dish soap, white vinegar/water solution, or an effervescent cleaning tablet to break up plaque and tartar build-up. Your retainers will thank you for it by staying sparkly, fresh smelling - and functioning at their best!
Make sure to keep your plastic retainers in tip-top shape by protecting them with a proper retainer case!
Consider one that fits both an upper and lower retainer, has a secure snap-lock closing mechanism for extra security, and is ventilated to help prevent excess moisture build-up. Investing in more than one of these cases ensures you always have access - store one at home, school or work so you'll never be without it again.
To keep your retainers clean and safe, always avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning them.
Even a mild chemical can weaken the material over time or leave voids where plaque and bacteria accumulate - not to mention any of these chemicals could potentially be ingested while you wear it! Stick with soaps specifically indicated for intra-oral appliances.
When cleaning your retainer, it's important to keep them far away from any source of heat. From the dishwasher and washer/dryer combo to a car dashboard on a hot summer day - or even boiling water and microwaves - too much warmth can cause irreparable damage! Excessive heat will talk its toll on Hawley retainers as well by bending their wires which adds unplanned forces onto teeth leading to unwanted tooth movements during retention periods.
Committing to taking good care of your retainers can save you money, time, and effort in the long term.
Hawley retainers are known for their longevity when well maintained - some lasting more than 5 years! However, signs that they need replacing include broken acrylics or bent/deformed wires as well as hard white deposits which indicate it's time to get a new one.
Taking proper care of your retainer is crucial to maintaining good oral hygiene - and it's not always easy. Clear plastic retainers are known for their delicacy, tend to wear out after 18-24 months, and could become discolored or develop cracks as a result of teeth grinding or clenching habits. On the other hand, bonded permanent retainers remain affixed until they need replacement due to deep dental cleanings—in which case you'll get an entirely new one!
Final Thoughts
Give your retainer the TLC it deserves with these easy tips! Whether you just got braces or are using retainers for years, taking proper care of them can help ensure that they last. Cleaning is key to maintaining top-notch oral health and a smile you'll love forever - so put in the work now and enjoy results later!
