Retainers are vital for keeping your teeth in their new position once there is the removal of braces. Since retainers Leander sit in your mouth, they gradually accommodate microorganisms and plaque. So, if you wear retainers, do not abandon brushing your teeth and observe healthy oral care frequently. Your teeth and retainers must stay clean to avoid odor and unpleasant taste.

Because of the importance of retainers, check below for simple fixes to keep them clean.

Drink a lot of water every day

Drinking plenty of water daily can transfer most of the existing tartar (calculus), plaque, and microorganisms in your mouth to the stomach, where they will be killed and eliminated from the body.

Also, constant exposure of your dental retainers to water is excellent for preventing damage. Moreover, moisture in your mouth can prevent xerostomia (dry mouth), which contributes to cavities or dental decay.

Regularly swish some water in your mouth and avoid drinks such as soda as they can affect the teeth and their protective appliances.

Properly brush your teeth and retainers

Clean both your oral appliances and teeth. Use a non-whitening paste and a soft brush that does not rub or grind your retainer.

Once done washing your teeth and retainer, remove the object and cleanse it as thoroughly as possible. You should clean your teeth again before returning the retainers to clean the remaining areas of your teeth and gum previously covered.

Use baking soda

Sodium bicarbonate is not a harsh chemical; it can destroy microorganisms in your mouth. Exposing your retainer to sodium bicarbonate prevents your mouth from having a harmful pH environment. Bacteria thrive when your mouth is acidic. So, baking soda neutralizes the acid level.

Additionally, since orthodontic devices, including retainers, tend to release a smell resembling decaying fruit, baking soda can serve as a powerful deodorizer.

So that you can use sodium bicarbonate, formulate an equal mixture of the ingredient and water. Ensure the thickness of the resulting material promotes its holding by retainers. You then use the mix with a comfortable toothbrush to softly brush the retainer and wash it.

Another natural solution is vinegar. The antibacterial can help expel the plaque and stench in your mouth. Mix a small volume of vinegar and lukewarm water in a dish. Then, you soak the dental appliance in the mixture for more than 10 minutes, rinse, and then dampen it again.

You can also use a toothbrush with soft fibers for scrubbing the retainer if it has an accumulation of tartar and plaque.

Experts recommend you clean your custom teeth devices at least once daily. And deep cleansing is performed at least once every week. You can deep clean your retainers using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. Remember, you risk dealing with bad taste and smell, calculus and plaque accumulation, and small white patches without cleaning your mouth and retainers.

As your orthodontist advises, replace your retainers when the right time comes.

Contact Pendleton Orthodontics DDS today to get customized retainers for correcting your bite and enhancing your smile.