How to Clean Each Type of Retainer
Your teeth move naturally throughout your life. When you speak, swallow, chew, and bite, these movements can cause your teeth to move. Nothing can fully stop your teeth from moving, but retainers can help if they’re worn properly.
How to Clean Your Retainer
Your retainer sits inside your mouth. So the food and plaque on your teeth can build up on your retainer. Just like with brushing your teeth, your retainer also needs to be kept clean. Find out how to keep retainers clean and how often you should clean them.
Why Wear a Retainer?
After your braces are removed, your teeth need help to stay in their new place. Your orthodontist will probably prescribe a retainer to help minimize movement. You may have to wear your removable retainer for at least 12 months after your braces are removed.
Your teeth move naturally throughout your life. When you speak, swallow, chew, and bite, these movements can cause your teeth to move. Nothing can fully stop your teeth from moving, but retainers can help if they’re worn properly.
You may have to wear your retainer anywhere between 12 hours and 23 hours a day. This means that bacteria can easily build up on your retainer.
Types of Retainers
There are several types of retainers, including:
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- Hawley retainers: These are removable retainers that are made of a hard material and wire.
- Clear Essix retainers: This type of removable retainer is made from a transparent material.
- Permanent or fixed retainers: These retainers are bonded to the tongue side of your teeth and are custom fitted. They can be placed and removed only by your orthodontist.
A study found that participants wearing clear Essix retainers had more plaque and tartar (dental calculus) buildup than those wearing Hawley retainers.
How to Clean a Retainer
Brush your retainer. After eating, rinse your retainer with warm water. Brush your teeth. Use a separate toothbrush to gently brush your retainer.
You may also use a small amount of gentle dish soap to clean your retainer.
Use a cotton swab. You may also use a cotton swab to clean the nooks and crannies of your retainer.
How to Deep-Clean a Retainer
There are a few different ways of deep-cleaning your removable retainer. Talk to your orthodontist to find out which is suitable for your type of retainer.
Baking soda water. You may deep-clean your removable retainer in a mixture of baking soda and water. If you have a Hawley retainer, don’t soak it for too long or too often. The baking soda solution may corrode the metal parts of your retainer.
Because an Essix retainer doesn’t have metal parts, it can be soaked in the baking soda solution longer and more often.
Denture cleaners. You may also use denture cleaners to clean your dirty retainer twice a week. Fill a small container with water and denture cleaner. Rinse your retainer. Soak it in the denture cleaner solution for 20 minutes. Rinse your retainer. Then soak it in nonalcoholic mouthwash for 20 minutes.
How to Clean Fixed Retainers
You can’t remove your permanent retainers to clean them. But you can clean your fixed retainers the same way you clean your teeth — by flossing and brushing.
Flossing around your permanent retainer can be tricky. You may want to use special dental floss or floss threaders that are designed for retainers. A water flosser may also be useful.
Because you can’t remove your fixed retainers to deep-clean them, you should also visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
What to Clean Retainers With
Experts recommend using:
- Warm water
- Cotton swabs
- Dish soap
- Dental cleaners
Here are some cleaning agents to avoid.
Toothpaste. Regular toothpaste may rub off the surface of your retainer. This may cause bacteria to stick to it. Instead of toothpaste, make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water. Use this paste to scrub your retainer.
Hot water or high temperatures. Don’t boil your retainer or use hot water to wash it. Heat can permanently warp the plastic materials of your retainer. You may then need to replace your retainer.
Bleach. This chemical is too harsh for your retainer and may damage it.
Alcohol. Avoid cleaners that contain alcohol. Alcohol can cause your retainer to dry out.
How Often Should You Clean Your Retainer?
Experts say that you should clean your retainer at least once a day. You may also want to deep-clean it in an antibacterial denture cleaner once a week. This can help kill any bacteria on your retainer.
If you don’t regularly clean your retainer, it can result in:
- Small white spots
- Bad smell
- Bad taste
- Layer of film
- Cloudy look
Retainer Maintenance Tips
Wash your hands. You risk transferring germs into your mouth if you don’t wash your hands first. Wash your hands before and after you handle your retainer.
Brush or rinse. After eating and before putting your retainer back in your mouth, try to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth.
Make it a habit. Once you take your retainer out of your mouth, clean it right away. This makes it easier to remove any food particles and makes it less likely that debris will harden on your retainer.
You can set a reminder on your phone. This will help remind you not just to clean your retainer but also to wear it.
Use the right retainer storage. Talk to your orthodontist to find out the best way to store your retainer when you’re not wearing it. Some retainers may need to dry out, while other types may need to be soaked. Check with your orthodontist about what type of soaking solution your retainer needs.
Remember your retainer case. Always carry your retainer case with you. You may damage your retainer if you drop it into your bag or pocket without a case.
Clean your case. Your retainer case may have more bacteria than your retainer. When your retainer is soaking, use the time to clean your case.
Don’t use a napkin. Try not to wrap your retainer in a napkin or tissue. It’s easily mistaken as trash and thrown away.
Avoid heat. Don’t leave your retainer in a hot car, near a heater, or near a hot stove. This can deform your retainer.
Keep it away from pets. Your dogs can easily chew up and damage your retainer. Keep your retainer away from your pets.
Show Sources
ADA Marketplace: “How to Live Your Best Life With Dental Retainers.”
American Association of Orthodontists: “Taking Care of Retainers.”
American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: “Periodontal health and compliance: A comparison between Essix and Hawley retainers.”
California Association of Orthodontists: “6 Tips for Keeping Your Retainer Clean,” “A Quick Guide To Retainer Maintenance,” “Cleaning Your Retainers.”
Canadian Association of Orthodontists: “Caring for your retainer,” “How long do I need to wear my retainer for after braces?”
Orthodontics Australia: “How to care for your retainer?”
How to Clean Each Type of Retainer
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Do I have to clean my retainer?
If you wear a retainer, you might be wondering how to care for it. Your retainer sits inside your mouth and against your teeth, so it quickly accumulates bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Just like you brush your teeth every day, it’s important to clean your retainer every day.
Many people need to wear a retainer full time for a while after they have their braces removed. This is because teeth aren’t set in a rigid environment. Even after they’ve been corrected by braces and moved into a better position, they can shift over time.
Retainers help the muscles and tissues in your mouth hold teeth in their new placement. Some people may even need to wear their retainers at night indefinitely to keep teeth in place.
Here’s more about the different types of retainers, how to clean them, and other tips to keep them well-maintained.
Caring for your retainer starts with identifying which kind you have. There are three types of retainers:
- Hawley retainers are molded out of acrylic to fit your mouth. They have a wire that helps hold the retainer in place. This type of retainer is removable, so it’s easy to clean.
- Clear plastic retainers may go by the names Essix, Vivera, or clear aligners. These retainers slip over your teeth and are pretty much invisible. They’re easy to remove, but aren’t as durable as Hawley retainers.
- Fixed, or bonded, retainers may also be called permanent retainers. These are actually attached to your lower front teeth. They’re used if you have a high risk of having your teeth shift. You can’t remove this type of retainer. It’s usually put into place for months or even years.
Hawley and clear plastic retainers
Both Hawley and clear plastic retainers can be removed from your mouth for daily cleaning.
To clean your Hawley or clear plastic retainer, follow these steps:
- Make sure you clean your retainer as soon as you remove it from your mouth, while it’s still wet. This will make it easier to clean off any debris before it hardens.
- Brush out your retainer with lukewarm water after each meal. It’s a good idea to brush your teeth at this time as well.
- For a deeper clean, mix lukewarm water with mild dish soap (toothpastes are abrasive and can scratch the retainer’s surface). Use a soft toothbrush or denture brush to gently scrub away plaque and other debris.
- If necessary, use a cotton swab to get into the deepest grooves and ridges on clear plastic retainers.
- Ask your dentist about soaking your retainer in a denture or retainer cleaner, like Efferdent or Polident. If they recommend soaking, mix a cup of lukewarm water with one tablet of cleaner and follow the package instructions for timing.
If you notice debris on your retainer that won’t come off, take it to your dentist or orthodontist. There are special solutions that can remove stubborn tartar.
Fixed, or bonded, retainers
These retainers are attached to your teeth, so you must floss them daily to keep them clean. This process may seem intimidating at first, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it. Here’s how to clean your permanent retainer:
- Grab a 6-inch piece of floss and use a floss threader to thread the floss between your two front lower teeth.
- Hold one end of the floss with your fingers and the other with the threader.
- Once you get the floss under your retainer wire, simply move it up and down between the teeth all the way to the gum line. The floss should gently go below the gum line if possible.
- Slide the floss sideways to the next area you want to clean. Pull down until it’s between your teeth.
- Repeat this process with each tooth that’s attached to your permanent retainer.
If you’re having a hard time flossing, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your dentist or orthodontist. They can help guide your technique and provide more tips.
1. Avoid heat
Exposing your retainer to high heat can warp and ruin it. Keep your retainer away from:
- boiling water
- microwaves
- dishwashers
- washers and dryers
- the dashboard of your car
Always wash retainers in lukewarm water.
2. Skip the chemicals
You don’t necessarily need to use harsh cleansers to get a squeaky-clean retainer. In fact, in a study on Essix retainers, researchers discovered that using chemical cleaning tablets didn’t reduce the number of bacteria any more than simple brushing did.
That being said, the tablets were effective at removing “cocci” bacteria, like Streptococcus bacteria, the cause of strep throat. Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils that causes a sore throat, fever, and red, swollen tonsils.
3. Time your soak
If you do choose to use tablets, don’t soak a Hawley retainer for too long. Doing so can corrode the metal components. Only soak the retainer for the time it takes to clean it, or as specified on your cleaning tablets.
You can do a quick mouthwash soak if you want to freshen your retainer’s smell and kill some bacteria. Be sure to mix equal parts mouthwash and lukewarm water.
If your mouthwash contains alcohol, only soak your retainer in this type of a solution occasionally. Alcohol can harm your retainer’s plastic.
4. Clean your case
Also make sure to clean your retainer case regularly. Try cleaning it once a day before you put your retainer away. Gently scrub all surfaces pf it in warm, soapy water. Then rinse it off and pat to dry.
5. Keep watch
You’ll want to keep your retainer away from pets so they don’t chew or choke on it. Likewise, be mindful of where you place your retainer while you’re eating. If you place it on a napkin, you may forget it or accidentally toss it in the trash.
6. Replace as needed
Retainers are somewhat like contact lenses or shoes: They’re subject to daily wear and tear. Eventually, they may need to be replaced. Essix retainers may only last six months to a few years, as the plastic tends to wear out. Hawley retainers can last 5 to 10 years if properly cared for.
Contact your orthodontist if you notice that your retainer is particularly dirty, worn out, or no longer fits properly.
Your retainer will keep collecting bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your mouth while you wear it. Over time, it may even start to smell or taste funny if you don’t clean it often enough.
More importantly, retainers can harbor dangerous bacteria like Streptococcus, including S. sanguinis, S. mitis, and S. salivarius, in addition to Lactobacillus and Veillonella. While many bacteria are normally found in the mouth, when too many build up, they can cause illness.
You may also become exposed to Candida albicans. This is detrimental yeast that’s normally found inside the mouth, but it may accumulate on your retainer and cause an infection.
Streptococcus and Candida may not be big threats if you have a healthy immune system. If your immune system is compromised in some way, though, you need to be more careful. Let your doctor know right away if you notice any redness, swelling, or other worrisome symptoms in your mouth.
Cleaning your retainer is just as important as brushing your teeth. You need to clean your retainer in warm water and dish soap once a day to keep it healthy. It’s a good idea to brush it out after each meal as well. The tips in this article are general, so it’s always best to ask your dentist or orthodontist for specific care instructions for your retainer.
Last medically reviewed on February 12, 2018
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Al Groosh DH, et al. (2015). The influence of surface roughness and surface dynamics on the attachment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus onto orthodontic retainer materials. DOI:
10.4012/dmj.2014-045 - Albanna RH, et al. (2016). Microbial evaluation of the effectiveness of different methods for cleansing clear orthodontic retainers: A randomized clinical trial. DOI:
10.2319/072916-585.1 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Dental braces.
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/braces/about/pac-20384607 - Metwalli KH, et al. (2013). Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and the human mouth: A sticky situation. DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1003616
How To Clean Retainers
You’ve just received the good news from your orthodontist that your braces are ready to come off. Congratulations! After putting in the time, effort, and investment to perfect your smile, there’s no doubt you’re excited to show it off. But perhaps you’ve also learned you’ll need to wear a retainer once your braces come off as a final step to permanently aligning your smile. There’s still plenty of cause for celebration. A retainer is much less noticeable and easier to take care of than braces. Regardless of which type of retainer you get, you’ll want to make sure you know how to properly care for it. Let’s go over the best way to clean retainers, no matter the type you get.
How Do Retainers Work?
Orthodontic treatment uses gentle pressure to move teeth, adjust jaw growth, and retrain mouth muscles. Orthodontia devices can be either fixed or removable. An example of a fixed appliance is braces. In contrast, retainers can be either fixed or removable. You’ll wear your retainer on the roof of your mouth or over your teeth, and it will do the critical job of making sure your teeth, which were already corrected by braces, don’t shift back to their original position.
An orthodontist cements a fixed retainer to the backs of your teeth. While the two most common types of removable retainers, the Hawley and the Essix, you can remove from your mouth on your own. If you’re getting a fixed retainer, you’ll be cleaning it like you would clean your mouth during your regular rigorous oral care routine. You should brush your fixed retainer when you brush your teeth. Use floss threaders to clean the spaces between your teeth and metal. If you’ve already had braces, then you should be used to floss threaders!
But when determining how to clean your removable retainer, the first step is to identify which retainer you have:
Hawley Retainers
A Hawley retainer is molded to fit the roof of your mouth and stabilize your teeth after orthodontic treatment. The plastic and metal used to make this type of retainer are susceptible to heat distortion and impact damage, so it’s essential to handle your Hawley retainer with care. Make sure to clean it daily to remove bacteria and food particles. However, avoid rinsing it with hot water or exposing it to heat. Instead, clean your retainer by gently brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush under cool to lukewarm water. You should also periodically soak it in a cleaning solution similar to a denture cleanser. And when you’re not using it, we recommend that you store your retainer in its protective case.
Essix Retainers
An Essix retainer is a transparent plastic covering your teeth, making it less noticeable than other retainers. Like the Hawley retainer, the removable Essix retainer is explicitly molded to your unique mouth and keep your teeth straight and aligned following orthodontic treatment. But did you know that they’re also used as an alternative to braces? If you’re instructed to wear your Essix retainer while you sleep, it’s best to rinse it with cool water at night before putting it in your mouth, then rinse it again when you remove it. And if you’re instructed to wear your Essix retainer when you eat, use a soft toothbrush to gently clean it after every meal.
Drinking liquids other than water while wearing your Essix retainer, especially colored beverages like coffee, red wine, and tea, may cause staining. And don’t brush your retainer with toothpaste, as its abrasive ingredients may scratch it. Like the Hawley retainer, we suggest keeping your Essix retainer away from hot water, as it may cause shrinking. Beyond the daily care of your Essix retainer, we recommend washing it with a special cleaner every two to three months. Your orthodontist will recommend the appropriate cleaning solution.
Keeping Retainers Clean
Just like on the surfaces and in the cracks of your teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar can collect on your retainer too. Sticky and colorless, plaque is a film of bacteria and sugars that is the primary source of cavities and gum disease if left to settle on your teeth. If not removed with an excellent oral care routine, plaque may harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional.
Brush at least two times each day to remove plaque from your teeth. Complement that with interdental cleaning to reach the areas between your teeth and along your gumline. Limiting your intake of starch, sugar, and sticky foods can help reduce plaque buildup too. And keeping up with your regular dental checkups gives you a chance to have any remaining plaque or tartar professionally removed. It’s all about the little things we do each day that add up to more significant results. By learning how to clean a retainer and care for your teeth daily, you’re doing everything you can to maintain a perfectly aligned, cavity-free smile!
