How to Build a 3-Minute Retainer Cleaning Routine
Most people are aware that daily hygiene of their retainer is necessary. However it is surprising how many people do not follow this practice on a regular basis and it is this failure to comply that all too often is the cause of deterioration in health.
An efficient retainer cleaning routine need not involve soaking routines, endless ranges of cleaning products or even take ten minutes of dedication.
All it needs is the correct range of products and a clear set of instructions that can be easily and quickly implemented. This article tries to do just that with a robust and effective plan which will take three minutes and it really is worth it.
Why Consistency Beats Intensity.
But before I talk about the steps, I think it is valuable to know why a consistent, brief flossing is more effective than a one-time thorough cleaning. Biofilm, the thin layer of bacteria that forms on retainer surfaces begins to develop within hours of wear.
When broken down consistently every day, it cannot harden and turn into calcified plaque. Once it does turn into calcified plaque, it is much more difficult to remove and requires a visit to the hygienist.
A simple three-minute procedure every day will keep all bio film in its early, easily cleaned stage, and at the same time prevents mineral haze forming, the smell from bacteria forming and the surface erosion that shortens the life of a retainer.
The mechanism is going to be the same, you don‘t need to increase the force if you are being consistent. Like the tortoise and the hare, you need to have the retainer cleaned every day so it is not playing catch-up, not every month with a long soak.
This is the same logic for why an ultrasonic retainer cleaner works best on consistent use, rather than a lot of use and then none. When it is working on contemporary accumulation rather than years of calcification, it doesn‘t have to battle as much.
The 3 Minutes Routine.
This habit is meant to be incorporated into an existing pattern probably most naturally connected to brushing before bed or as soon as you get up. Adding this habit to something you already regularly do is the single best way to ingrain it.
1. Minute One: Immediate Rinse After Removal
As soon as the retainer is removed from the mouth, rinse it under cold tap water for 20–30 seconds. This can be counter-intuitive. Saliva amylases begin sticking to the surface of the retainer almost as soon as it is removed. Rinsing keeps most of the gross debris washed off until they have a chance to stick.
Only use cool water (never hot). When thermoplastic materials are heated, their entire structure is deformed permanently over time, takes months until it shows up, for example, in fit or clarity.
2. Minute Two: Ultrasonic Cleaning Cycle
This is where an ultrasonic retainer cleaner comes into play, which is the place where the three-minute routine becomes worth it.
Simply fill the tank with distilled water (or distilled water with a small cleaning tablet dissolved in it), put the retainer into the ultrasonic retainer cleaner machine and run the cycle.
Most ultrasonic retainer cleaner models complete a standard cycle in about 3 to 5 minutes, so this step is almost hands free until you finish the rest of your bedtime or morning routine.
The cavitation process, billions of microscopic implosions of high frequency sound waves penetrates below the surface texture of the retainer and removes the bacteria Biofilm, Dental debris and mineral deposits traditional cleaning and brushing isn‘t able to.
The ultrasonic retainer cleaner does not require scrubbing, pressure or abrasive hand cleaning. The physics of cavitation accomplishes what those methods can‘t.
For an everyday cleaning, plain distilled water in the ultrasonic retainer cleaner is enough the majority of the time. Use the cleaning tablet every couple of days or so for a rather more thorough antibacterial clean.
3. Minute Three: Final Rinse and Proper Storage
Once the ultrasonic retainer cleaner cycle ends, remove the retainer and rinse the retainer with cool tap water again for 15 to 20 seconds. This is to rinse any of the loose debris that the cavitation action broke away but was not dispersed into the tank water. It is a short practice but it avoids placing a retainer back into the patient’s mouth with the debris still on it.
Storage is more important than most people think. A clean retainer in a dirty case is contaminated almost right away. Rinse the case out with cool tap water and let air dry before putting your retainer back in; this takes seconds and will help stop recontamination of the case.
What to Skip Entirely
A three-minute set only works if you do not have the inclusion of steps that bog things down or are unintentionally damaging.
Toothpaste is obviously the worst. It makes sense toothpaste cleans teeth, it should clean retainers but its abrasive ingredients scratch thermoplastic surfaces, speeding up clouding, and leaving grooves for bacteria to settle in. Skip it altogether.
Some types of mouthwash when applied to the retainer can distort and discolour some retainer materials over a period of time. If you wish to ‘disinfect’ your retainer, add to your ultrasonic cleaner‘s water. Do not put mouthwash directly onto the retainer.
Boiling or hot water is an effective way to deform a retainer which fits poorly even faster and is unnecessary if the ultrasonic retainer cleaner is part of the routine.
One thing for which the heat used to sanitize is also used to dehydrate thermoplastic and no amount of rinsing will undo the damage.
Final Remarks.
The three-minute retainer cleaning routine simply doesn‘t get any easier than when you can add it to an established anchor habit.
Leave your ultrasonic retainer cleaner on the bathroom counter, right next to your toothbrush out of the way, visible, and right where you already are when you brush. Visibility is one of the most powerful habit-forming cues.
Pour in the ultrasonic retainer cleaner tank, press start, and let it run while you do your morning prep and brush your teeth.
When you‘re done, the cycle‘s over. Active time, rinsing, loading, un-loading, final-rinse, storing is sub-3 minutes, the remaining time is the device “on” and busy during your other activities.
And it is the essence of a sustainable retainer cleaning regimen, not more work, but better work. A three-minute daily ultrasonic retainer cleaning regimen, can leave a retainer much cleaner and much easier to keep clean than an hour of sporadic brushing.