This article explains how to clean clear aligners and removable retainers.
- Aligners and retainers get plaque, build-up, stains and smells.
- Only drink plain water while wearing aligners. Food, coffee and juice stain them.
Daily cleaning
- Use a toothbrush with liquid hand soap and cold water only. Warm or hot water will ruin them.
- Gently clean the inside and outside. Do not bend the plastic too much.
- Rinse well with cold water.
- Put them back in, or let them dry before putting them in the case. Wet retainers grow germs.
Soap can taste bad. A special appliance cleaning gel tastes nicer.
Sometimes
- Soak in cold water with a cleaning tablet for about 20 minutes. Rinse, then wear or dry and store.
- A small ultrasonic cleaner (like a jewellery cleaner) removes stains and build-up well.