Orthodontic retainers tend to accumulate food particles and plaque just like teeth do. Every time you brush your teeth, you should brush your retainer. Approximately once a week you can soak your retainer in a glass of room temperature tap water with a denture-cleaning tablet, such as Polident™ or Efferdent.™ You can also use Aqua Blast™ a special cleaning solution for retainers made by the makers of Aqua Fresh™ toothpaste.

Retainers should be stored in a retainer box when not being worn. Take care to keep the retainers (even when in their box) away from the reach of pets, particularly dogs, because they will chew them and damage them. Never wrap the retainers in a napkin or tissue because the retainers can become broken or be accidentally thrown away.

In addition, do not put your retainers in hot or boiling water, in the dishwasher or microwave, on a radiator, in a glove box in the car or leave them in direct sunlight, for they could become distorted and no longer fit properly. If you notice any problems with your retainers or they become damaged, please call our office for an appointment.