Retainer Sterilization: A Guide to Keeping Your Orthodontic Appliance Clean

After months of wearing braces to straighten your teeth, using a retainer helps keep them straight. Because this orthodontic device is in your mouth, it comes in direct contact with bacteria and germs present inside the mouth. Regular cleaning and sterilizing of the retainer helps prevent illness due to germs and bacteria. The orthodontist is likely to send a patient home with proper care instructions, demonstrating that simple, but regular care of the retainer keeps it in good, sanitary condition.

Things You'll Need

• Dish washing detergent
• Toothbrush
• Glass
• 2 oz. chlorine bleach
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove the retainer from your mouth. Add two drops of dishwashing detergent to a wet toothbrush.

• 2

  Gently scrub your retainer to remove food particles and stains.

  Scrub the retainer with the dish detergent and toothbrush. Clean both sides of the plastic, as well as the retainer wire. Rinse the retainer well with cool water.

• 3

  Bleach safely sterilizes your retainer.

  Fill a glass with 2 oz. of chlorine bleach and 2 oz. cool water. Soak your retainer in the bleach solution for 10 to 20 minutes to sanitize and sterilize it.

• 4

  Brush the retainer again with dishwashing detergent. Rinse it well, then allow it to air dry on a clean towel.