4 Things You Should Never Do When Cleaning a Retainer

When it comes to your physical appearance, your smile is one of the first things that people see. And while some were born with a perfect set of teeth, for others, the journey to obtaining their pearly whites has been a lot harder. In fact, it can be so difficult that many make the decision to find out the materials that make up a dental implant to see if this is a route worth taking.

However, when you just need a simple correction, you may have undergone the process of having braces or Invisalign – both of which can improve significant problems with your teeth. And when you’ve finished the course of treatment, you will be required to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in the same position.

Whether you’re wearing your retainer to correct an overbite or to keep your teeth nice and straight after wearing bonded braces, you need to keep it clean to prevent bacteria and funky smells from developing.

Unfortunately, there are several common mistakes people make while cleaning their retainers. Here are just four errors to avoid.

  1. Using Mouthwash with Alcohol

Alcohol can dry out your mouth, which can lead to retainer damage. Even worse, most retainers are made from acrylic, which is damaged through exposure to alcohol. It might seem like a good idea to soak your retainer in mouthwash to get rid of any bacteria, but you should make sure it’s a non-alcoholic one. It’s also best to find a clear mouthwash to avoid discolouration, although that’s only a cosmetic concern.

  1. Using an Abrasive Toothbrush

A retainer should be cleaned every day, and your toothbrush is the perfect implement. Of course, you need to pick out the right products. A hard-bristled toothbrush is a big no-no since it can cause scratches – you might get rid of bacteria at first, but you’ll also be creating deep furrows in which future bacteria can thrive. It’s far better to go for a soft-bristled toothbrush instead. You should be careful about the same for brushing your teeth. Using an abrasive toothbrush can also damage your gums, cause bleeding, and can lead to infection and gingivitis. The latter would require a gingivectomy to remove overgrown and damaged gum tissues. So, choose oral health and care products with proper guidance by talking to a dental professional.

  1. Leaving the Retainer to Dry

After cleaning your retainer, it only makes sense to leave it to dry, right? Actually, this isn’t a good idea. There could still be some debris left on your retainer – when you leave it to dry, that debris hardens, making it much harder to scrub away from the retainer’s surface. This is one of the most common causes of bad breath associated with retainers.

  1. Not Using Dental Cleaners

If there’s one mistake that’s worse than any other, it’s using cleaning agents that haven’t even been designed to work with dental products. It might sound ridiculous, but you’d be surprised to learn how many people assume that soapy water or a chemical cleaner is perfectly fine for a retainer as long as the retainer is rinsed right afterwards. However, most of those products contain irritants that will stay with the retainer, so don’t use them.

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