| Getting retainers is often the happiest time for an | | | | Both products can be found on the DentaKit website. |
| orthodontic patient. After years of braces, your teeth | | | | SonicBrite makes a retainer cleaning kit which includes |
| will soon be "free!" But it isn't entirely carefree. You | | | | cleaning powder and a portable battery-operated sonic |
| need to wear your retainers exactly as your | | | | bath. It's easy to use: just place some warm water in |
| orthodontist tells you or your teeth could shift back to | | | | the sonic bath, put in a small spoon of SonicBrite |
| the way they were before braces. And since retainers | | | | powder, and turn on the unit. The vibrations from the |
| cost several hundred dollars to replace, you want to | | | | unit help to loosen debris from your retainer or aligner |
| keep them clean, odor-free, and safe from breakage! | | | | tray, and the powder kills more than 99% of the |
| Why Do I Need to Wear Retainers? | | | | bacteria. After 15 minutes the unit shuts itself off. |
| After your braces come off, the periodontal ligaments | | | | Simply remove your retainer, rinse in cool water, and |
| that hold the teeth in place are still loose from the | | | | you're good to go! If your retainer has not been |
| pressure of your braces. Generally it takes anywhere | | | | properly cleaned in a long time and contains a lot of |
| from 3 to 9 months for the periodontal ligaments to | | | | white build-up, two cycles in the SonicBrite kit usually |
| tighten up and "remember" the new positions of your | | | | remove all of the debris. |
| straightened teeth. This is why it's so important that | | | | Another product that most dentists recommend is |
| you wear your retainer exactly the way that your | | | | Retainer Brite. This product comes in tablets (similar to |
| orthodontist recommends. You just spent years in | | | | denture cleaning tablets) but is formulated gently, |
| braces -- this final step is very important for keeping | | | | specifically for retainers. Unlike denture cleaning tablets, |
| your smile as beautiful as it was the day your braces | | | | Reatiner Brite will not turn your retainers or aligners |
| came off! | | | | yellow. To use Retainer Brite, just fill a cup with warm |
| Most orthodontists tell their patients to wear their | | | | water, drop in one Retainer Brite tablet, and in about 10 |
| retainers 24/7 for the first few months. Gradually you | | | | minutes your retainers are clean and odor-free. There |
| can switch to wearing the retainers only at night. And | | | | is also a portable battery-operated sonic cleaner that |
| after a year or more, you might be able to "get away | | | | you can optionally buy to use with Retainer Brite, which |
| with" wearing them several nights per week. But if you | | | | vibrates and helps to loosen debris from your retainer |
| want your teeth to stay in their new positions, you | | | | or aligner tray. |
| can't totally stop wearing your retainer. You will need | | | | Which product is better? It depends on your needs. If |
| to wear it at least several nights per week for the rest | | | | your retainer or aligner tray has a lot of white build-up, |
| of your life to keep your teeth in their proper positions. | | | | the SonicBrite powder will do a better job of removing |
| Teeth are dynamic and respond to the pressures of | | | | it. This is good option for people who have not properly |
| daily living (the position of your tongue, the way you | | | | cleaned their retainers and need to strip away gunky |
| bite and chew, etc). Over time those pressures will | | | | build-up and keep it away. However, if your retainer is |
| move the teeth. Wearing your retainers helps to | | | | already fairly clean, you can use Retainer Brite tablets |
| ensure that the teeth remain "retained" where they | | | | daily to keep it fresh. They both cost about the same |
| were on the day your braces came off. | | | | amount of money (around $30 for a supply that lasts |
| How to Clean Retainers | | | | several months up to year). Some people buy both |
| One of the biggest challenges to wearing retainers | | | | products and use SonicBrite for a deep cleaning and |
| (and even Invisalign-type aligner trays) is keeping the | | | | Retainer Brite for everyday use. Both SonicBrite and |
| retainers and aligners clean. Bacteria build up on the | | | | Retainer Brite have been endorsed and used by |
| retainers and aligners the same way that they build up | | | | dentists and orthodontists worldwide. |
| on teeth. If you don't keep your aligners clean, very | | | | Keeping Your Retainers Safe |
| quickly you will notice that they smell bad and have an | | | | "I lost my retainer!" These are dreadful words that you |
| ugly layer of white gunky film. If you don't clean your | | | | will hopefully never say. It can take 2 to 3 weeks to |
| retainers or aligners properly, the film will harden and | | | | make a new retainer, and most orthodontists charge |
| become almost impossible to remove. This is true for | | | | anywhere from $100 to $250 or more to make a new |
| all types of retainers (plastic and wire Hawley | | | | set of retainers. This is because most retainers are |
| retainers, clear Essix retainers, aligner trays, snoring | | | | made by outside labs, so the orthodontist must send |
| and bruxism devices, etc). | | | | the mold of your mouth to the lab to have a new set |
| How can you keep your retainers clean and odor | | | | of custom retainers fabricated. Obviously you want to |
| free? There are several ways. | | | | keep your retainers safe and accounted for at all |
| - Always rinse your retainers in warm water after | | | | times. The best way to do this is with a good retainer |
| taking them out of your mouth. Before putting your | | | | case. Your orthodontist will probably give you a |
| retainer into a retainer case, give it a quick rinse. This | | | | retainer case when you get your retainers. But if you |
| will wash away some of the surface bacteria. Do not | | | | want more than one case, or if you want a case of a |
| use an anti-bacterial hand wipe on your retainer. The | | | | specific color or size, the DentaKit web store carries a |
| chemicals in antibacterial hand wipes may be toxic if | | | | wide selection of all types of retainer cases, both hard |
| they are put into your mouth! | | | | and soft. |
| - The easiest method for cleaning retainers is the good | | | | The most common way that retainers are lost is by |
| old-fashioned toothbrush. If you have a plastic and wire | | | | wrapping them in napkins. You can't see the retainer |
| Hawley retainer, you can brush it with toothpaste on a | | | | inside the napkin, you forget about it, and soon the |
| soft toothbrush. However, this method is not | | | | napkin gets tossed in the garbage. Unless you want to |
| recommended for Invisalign-type clear aligner trays or | | | | spend hours digging through the trash, it's better to put |
| clear Essix retainers (which look like aligner trays). The | | | | your retainer into a proper case - never use a napkin! |
| toothpaste can scratch the clear plastic and over time, | | | | Should you get a hard case or a soft case? That |
| your retainers will not be "invisible" anymore. | | | | depends on where you keep your retainer. If you are |
| - Some people recommend soaking retainers in a | | | | not going to keep your retainer in a place where it will |
| weak solution of hydrogen peroxide diluted with water, | | | | potentially get "smashed," then you can opt for a soft |
| or even an alcohol-based mouthwash. This helps to kill | | | | case. But if you tend to put your retainer in your |
| germs, but doesn't address the white gunky build-up. In | | | | pocket, or a backpack where it may get buried under |
| addition, these harsh chemicals can damage the | | | | heavy books, it's best to get a hard case to protect |
| surface of the plastic over time, turning it yellow. | | | | your retainer from breakage. Some retainer cases |
| - Some people use denture cleaning tablets to clean | | | | include a hole or a loop for attaching it to a keychain |
| their retainers or aligners. This will seem to work at | | | | clip or a lanyard, which keeps them easily within reach. |
| first, but over time the harsh chemicals in the denture | | | | Boys and men may want to get a retainer case in a |
| tablets will turn your retainer yellow. This is because | | | | dark color, but keep in mind that bright colors are |
| the denture tablets are strongly formulated to clean | | | | easier to find at the bottom of a backpack, briefcase, |
| false teeth, not retainers. | | | | or purse. |
| This is the reason why the companies that make | | | | Be sure to label your retainer case so that it will get |
| retainers have come out with special cleaning | | | | returned to you if it gets lost. If your retainer case |
| products. These products are formulated to kill germs | | | | doesn't come with an ID sticker, use an address label |
| and remove the white buildup without harming the | | | | or write your name and phone number inside the |
| plastic in the retainers. Two products work extremely | | | | retainer case in permanent marker. |
| well for this purpose: SonicBrite and Retainer Brite. | | | | |