My ortho told me not to clean my retainer with toothpaste and toothbrush because it'll scratch them and turn them white. how else do i clean them?

Denture cleanser: It's best to ask your own orthodontist that question. Having said that, you can use a denture cleanser, according to their directions (polident or efferdent).

Denture cleanser: Place them in a denture cup with denture cleanser. I do not feel that a regular toothbrush and normal toothpaste will adversely affect your retainer. If your retainer has a surface stain to give it a different color that may change this answer.

Change the paste: Soft bristle brush (the type you use on your teeth) and regular tooth paste would do the trick. The expensive toothpaste sometimes comes with abrasive substances to and thus is unfavorable. Keep it simple!

Scratchs? So what!: I often hear this nonsense from labs and dentists who want to cya when post ortho movement occurs. While careful toothbrushing is desired to prevent bending of the appliance's retaining wires, what type of toothpaste you use is not relevant. If an ada dentifrice safely cleans your teeth over a lifetime, how much damage would occur to appliance that should be remade every 2- 5 years.

Ultrasonic cleaner!: A dental lab or your dentist would rarely clean your retainer with a toothbrush and toothpaste, they would place it in a cup of mouth wash and put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. Once very expensive, a decent small capacity device can be easily purchased on web sites such as amazon.

Denture cleaner: Tablets that can be purchased in most pharmacies like polident or efferdent are very effective in cleaning and disinfecting ortho retainers. Use cool to luke warm water. Never use hot water to clean your appliances.

Correct: He is right. Denture cleaners work well. A cheap combo is a slurry of peroxide and baking soda. Let the retainers soak in it while you eat. Works great!

OTC products work: Otc products, including denture cleansing products work and also peroxide/ baking soda.

Soap & water: Toothpaste will scratch the plastic unless a special denture paste is used. More importantly, toothpaste is not antibacterial. Simply rub a toothbrush (not one used with toothpaste) on a bar of soap or use liquid soap to clean and deodorize all dental appliances. Once or twice a week, you can use a denture cleaner like efferdent for 3 minutes. Bring it to your dentist during your cleanings too.

Choices: Wipe them with a moist washcloth or gauze sponge. Brush the metal parts with a toothbrush. Put them into denture cleaner every day.

Denture tab, vinegar: Rinsing under warm water in the am and storing in case should keep them fairly clean. If build up occurs, soaking with denture cleaning tabs or vinegar works well. You can brush lightly but with no toothpaste, and i would suggest only brushing the outside surface, not the tissue surface.