Congratulations! You’ve taken care of your braces throughout your whole orthodontic treatment and now you have the smile of your dreams.
Now in order to maintain that winning smile, you need to look after your teeth and retainer. By storing and cleaning your retainer properly, you’ll keep it in the best condition and therefore your smile too!
Carry on reading for some advice around caring for your retainer and smile after braces.
Cleaning your retainer
We’re recommended to clean our teeth at least twice a day… But what about our retainers?
A good rule of thumb is to clean your retainer every time you clean your teeth, so twice a day. Aside from that, your retainers should also be deep cleaned once or twice a week.
To clean your retainers, all you have to do is use a non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your retainer day and night.
How to clean your retainer with baking soda
One excellent at-home method for deep cleaning a retainer is with baking soda.
Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 of water until you have a thick sticky paste. Apply the paste to your retainer and rub it all over using your brush. Make sure to pay special attention to the ridges and crevices, as those are often the places that get missed.
Storing your retainer
Once your retainer is cleaned, the last thing you want to do is place it back in a dirty case!
Every time you clean your retainer, use a mild soap and lukewarm water to clean your case. Be mindful of where you store your retainer too. Because they are small they can easily get misplaced so if it’s not in your mouth, place it in your case.
Still have questions?
It may seem like a lot of information to take in, but we’re here to help. If you still have questions about keeping your retainer looking and working perfectly, then get in touch with us today.
Please call us on 0161 622 0987.
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