How do you clean removeable retainers?

[worriedandsad]

We have just been given these by hospital orthodontist but no advice on how to clean them - they are smelly after 2 days. There is no opportunty to go back to hospital to ask this now. A friend suggested retainer brite. It looks like it is supposed to be cleaned in a special container with a special brush? Please can someone tell me if they use retainer brite or similar and recommend a container and brush? Thanks very much.

When I used to have one you just scrubbed it with your toothbrush and toothpaste

My son has had one for about 6 months and he just brushes it with toothpaste after he brushes his permanent brace. Definitely no smell

We used retainer brite for my DSS as it stank otherwise, we would place it in a glass with the tablet, then after if any food etc left on it run it under a cold tap and go other with a toothbrush.
They recommend not using toothpaste on it,

Yeah you can buy a sonic cleaner machine to use with the brite stuff.

Toothpaste and toothbrush after cleaning your teeth first.

www.amazon.co.uk/Retainer-Brite-Cleaning-Tablets-96/dp/B005GRGARE?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I use these. They're excellent. One tab dispersed in warm water, pop removable brace in, they're clean once the blue water turns clear (a few minutes).

They are suitable for all teeth apparatus, not just retainers. I've bought them in bulk cheap off eBay previously

Can you not stick a denture tablet in a glass with it?

For the container I just used an old mug and then ran them under cold water afterwards, no need to brush. A normal toothbrush would be fine though.

We use retainer barite on the advice of the orthodontist. Do NOT use denture cleaner, it is too abrasive.

Retainer Brite (sorry!)

Do not use toothpaste!

Yep retainer brite - recommended by my orthodontist for my retainers and it’s fab.

We were told to wash three times daily with tooth brush and toothpaste then once a week use retainer brute.

Brite obvs

We were told not to use toothpaste but to use a small amount of hand wash and a toothbrush. Every so often we soaked them in retainer brite

Daughter has used toothbrush and paste daily and once every couple weeks a soak in a steredent tablet.( for false teeth ) still wearing the retainers five years on 🤪

Our orthodontist says toothpaste is too abrasive and to use hand wash. Googling suggests the same

Denture tablets, decade on still going strong

I must admit the guidance is contradictory, because I have a plastic mouthguard and I was told to use toothbrush and hand soap and a sterident once a week. But my sons has a half plastic half metal block retainer and was told toothpaste and toothbrush daily and retainer brite weekly. Can you not phone the orthodontist reception for cleaning instructions? Then at least you are doing exactly what your orthodontist has suggested. But ultimately toothpaste or hand wash isn't going to damage it between your next 8week visit.

Sadly no way to get back in touch with this hospital orthodontist department which is at busting point and they don't want to see her for 3.5 months now.

I just used a mug when using retainer brite btw. A soft toothbrush will do for cleaning it too

Soap and water daily, rinse well. Retainer brite soak once weekly. Nothing abrasive incl loothpaste.

We were told to use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste

We were told soap and water, not toothpaste as it makes the plastic cloudy (more of an issue if they have to wear them during the day as they often do for a few months).

We were also told not to use toothpaste, just warm water and a little mouth wash rinse if wanted.