If you are wearing some removable oral apparatus such as Hawley retainers, clear retainers, or Invisalign clear aligners, you may notice they get white build-ups if not brushed in a few days. At first, the build-ups may be soft and sticky due to plaque build-ups. With time, this sticky layer turns into crusty white build-ups that are difficult to brush away. Just as calculus build-up on teeth, calculus deposit on retainers and it is very hard to remove. Aside from the unattractive look, dirty retainers and aligners also smell like rotten fruit. Thus, it is important to keep retainers and aligners clean. The best and easiest way to keep your retainers and aligners cleaned is to brush them daily
Brush your retainers and aligners daily:
This method is the cheapest, most reliable, and most effective way of cleaning retainers and aligners. Every morning, at least once a day, you should manually brush your retainers with liquid soap and a toothbrush. Use a separate toothbrush with stiff bristles and soap, you can get rid of the white plaque adhered to your appliance, rinse over with warm water, then store your oral devices in a case with the lid opened to air dry and eliminate any dampen salivary smell.
Most hand soap has antibacterial agent so it helps to clean plaques and act as a deodorizing agent to eliminate the unpleasant smell.
Although you can use toothpaste to brush your retainers, toothpaste can cause micro-scratches on our clear retainers to lead to dull retainer surfaces. Mtoothpaste contains about 20% of abrasives such as silica compounds, triclosans, polymers, and pyrophosphates. These ingredients can create micro scratches on your retainers or make retainers look duller over time.
By brushing your retainers and aligners daily you can keep your oral devices cleaned, fresh and hygienic.
Our office offers:
- Invisalign - clear removable aligners for adults and teenagers
- Metal and ceramic braces – catering to your individual need
- Expander – to create spaces for teeth and jaw
- Headgear – to correct bad bite and different type of malocclusions
- Retainers – to replace lost retainers or after orthodontic treatment
Visit us at www.CareOrthodontics.com or contact Care Orthodontics in San Jose CA at 408-971-2885. Dr. Nancy Phan is a Board-certified orthodontist and dedicated many years to bring out the true beauty of your smile.