Just like your teeth, your retainer needs to be taken care of daily in order to work at its fullest potential. You should clean your retainer once a day in order to remove plaque, minimize bacteria, and eliminate odors. The good news is that retainers are very easy to clean! All you need is a toothbrush and dental paste or an orthodontic-specific product. Just make sure you don’t get the water too hot, as retainers are sensitive to extreme heat. You should always remove your retainer when you go swimming. The repetitive opening and closing of your mouth that happens when you swim increases the likelihood of your retainer dislodging and getting lost, not to mention the fact that the chemicals used to keep swimming pools hygienic corrode your retainer materials. Lastly, don’t leave your retainer out in the open around pets. No matter how clean you keep it, your pets will probably still think it smells like food. You can avoid the hassle of replacing your retainer by making sure you keep it in its case and in a safe place.
