DAILY : Each morning, use a small bit of non-abrasive toothpaste (regular, non-whitening) brush your retainers with a very soft bristle toothbrush. This will help keep your retainer clean, but it will not kill the harmful bacteria and won’t prevent white plaque buildup unless you brush the retainer extremely thoroughly every single time. If you have a clear Invisalign aligner tray or a clear retainer, brushing with a toothbrush is not recommended, as it will put small scratches onto your retainer, which will eventually turn it cloudy. Never use baking soda to clean your retainer, because it is too abrasive and will scratch it (also, baking soda does not kill germs).

WEEKLY: 1-3 times per week, use a cleaner discussed below

Hydrogen Peroxide and Water Soak – Mix equal amounts of warm tap water and 3% hydrogen peroxide, and soak your retainer for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Hydrogen peroxide will kill some bacteria, and it gets rid of most of the white tarter build-up. Additionally, it makes yellowed retainers much more clear again.

Mouthwash Soak – You can dilute equal parts of mouthwash and water to temporarily make your retainer smell fresh and kill some of the bacteria. However, mouthwash usually contains some amount of alcohol, which can be harmful to the plastic of your retainer. It’s OK to soak your retainers in mouthwash occasionally, but regular soaking in mouthwash could harm your retainer.