Orthodontic Retainers
Orthodontic retainers don’t actually straighten teeth, but rather keep teeth straight after an active phase of orthodontics. Orthodontic retainers are typically removable, giving the patient control over cleaning them and their teeth well. Removable orthodontic retainers are made from some combination of wires custom-bent to adapt closely to the patient’s teeth, and plastic or acrylic for extra rigidity.
However, in many cases where the teeth were very crowded or very rotated, and especially on the lower incisors, an orthodontic retainer may be a simple wire that is bonded (glued) to the teeth on the inside. These are a little harder to clean around, but for most people, the extra effort is worth keeping their teeth straight!
Cleaning Orthodontic Retainers
For removable orthodontic retainers, cleaning should be done daily, and can be done with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste or even hand soap. Alternatively, orthodontic retainers can be cleaned by soaking in a cup with a retainer or denture tablet. The brand of the tablet does not matter, and frequently half a tablet will clean as effectively as a whole one, so feel free to conserve your resources by splitting it in half! Soaking for 5 minutes is generally all that is needed to clean the retainer. Bring your retainer to every hygiene and dental appointment for evaluation and cleaning.
For bonded lingual (tongue-side) wire retainers, cleaning is quite a bit more tricky. A dental water jet (like Waterpik (R) for example) is good for removing food, but in order to remove plaque and bacteria, flossing under the retainer must be done frequently. Floss threaders and floss picks are very effective at getting under the wire.
