Looking after retainers

[JellySlice]

Dd tells me her retainers smell bad, even though she cleans them regularly. Any tips on what she can do about this?

How is she cleaning them? Do you have a specialist solution like retainer brite? That should help if not.

Scrubbing them with a toothbrush using - handwash gel

Apparently this is what the orthodontist told her to do.

Hand wash gel?!?!?! never heard of that.
Retainer Brite or any sterilising tablets -son's orthodontist said twice a week was enough, with just rinsing out in between. In cold water.

Nooo buy some retainer Brite! Can get from orthodontists or amazon. We also use it to clean vases and hand wash only glasses. Great stuff.

What kind of retainers? Essix or Hawley? (like invisalign or with a plastic plate and wire)

Is she eating with the retainers in? If you have Essix retainers you shouldn't eat with them in and only drink water when you are wearing them.

Then it's just like looking after your own mouth really - rinsing and brushing with water should do and an occassional soak in denture cleaner or retainer cleaner.

My dd was also told to use hand wash and a toothbrush on hers as toothpaste is too abrasive. Every so often she soaked them in retainer brite.