Cleaning your clear aligners, plastic retainers, whitening trays or other devices is essential for good oral hygiene and to reduce bacterial and fungal growth. This will also reduce staining and discolouration.
In most situations, cleaning with liquid soap and cold water is sufficient. A specialised cleaner – Dental Fresh will also help to remove scale and has a pleasant taste. Hot water should never be used as this will cause them to distort. Denture, or appliance cleaning tablets can be used 1-2 times per week to assist with freshness, but are not a substitute for cleaning.
- Remove aligner/ retainer and rinse with water.
- Apply liquid soap or Dental Fresh gel and brush gently
- Rinse with cold water only
- Soak with a denture / appliance cleaning table 1 x per week
- If storing, allow to dry before packing away to avoid mould and bacterial growth
- For caked-on scale, soak in white vinegar for 5-10 minutes as required.