As we mentioned in our last article, it’s important that retainers are cleaned on a daily basis. That being said, sometimes they need a deep clean. Although this isn’t an everyday thing, pediatric dentists in Fair Lawn suggest deep cleaning them on a weekly basis; at most once a month. Your retainers will also give you signs that it’s time to clean them, such as white spots, bad odors, and a cloudy appearance. Although there are solutions that you can purchase to deep clean your retainers, there are also home remedies that you can create.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has many different uses; one of them being that they can whiten your teeth and clean your retainers. This is because baking soda is a natural disinfectant, meaning that it will kill bacteria, as well as remove stains. To use baking soda, all you have to do is mix equal amounts of water and baking soda together to make a paste. Using a toothbrush, scrub the paste onto the retainer and rinse the leftover residue away with water.
Vinegar
White vinegar is another great natural disinfectant. To use vinegar, all you have to do is combine equal parts water and vinegar and soak your retainers for at least 20 minutes. Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly afterwards. This mixture will eliminate odors and bacteria from your retainers.
Castile Soap
To make your own castile soap, mix coconut oil with olive oil to make a soft, yet efficient, cleaning product. To clean your retainers, mix some of your castile soap with warm water and scrub your retainers with a toothbrush. Rinse with cool water afterwards.
Deep cleaning your child’s retainers isn’t time consuming, but it’ll make a huge difference in their oral health. If you have any more questions about how to maintain your child’s smile, ask your pediatric dentists in Fair Lawn.
