How to Clean a Retainer (and What Not to Use)

By the team at Bollington Dental Practice, under the clinical direction of Dr Ellie Burrows, Principal Dentist. Updated October 2026.

After months or years of braces or aligners, a retainer is what keeps your straighter smile where it is, and it spends a lot of time in your mouth. That makes it a magnet for plaque, a cloudy film and, if it is not cleaned, a smell you notice the moment it comes out. The good news is that keeping a retainer clean takes a couple of minutes a day, and most of the damage people do to retainers comes from cleaning them too enthusiastically with the wrong things rather than not cleaning them at all.

The short answer

Clean a removable retainer every day with a soft toothbrush, cool or lukewarm water and a little mild liquid soap, then rinse it well and store it dry in its case. Avoid toothpaste, which is abrasive and can scratch or discolour the plastic, and never use hot or boiling water, which can warp it so it no longer fits. A soak in a cleaning product made for retainers is a useful extra but does not replace brushing. Retainers do wear out, so if yours is cracked, warped or no longer fits snugly, contact whoever provided it before your teeth have a chance to move.

A daily routine for removable retainers

This applies to clear plastic retainers, which look like a thin, close-fitting tray, and to the acrylic and wire type. The same principles apply to clear aligners during treatment, such as ClearCorrect.

• Rinse it when it comes out. Saliva and plaque are far easier to remove while they are still soft, so give the retainer a rinse under cool running water every time you take it out.
• Brush it gently once or twice a day. Use a soft toothbrush kept just for the retainer, with a drop of mild, unperfumed liquid soap and cool or lukewarm water. Brush inside and out, paying attention to the grooves where it sits against your teeth.
• Rinse thoroughly. Make sure no soap is left before it goes back in.
• Brush your own teeth first. Putting a clean retainer over unbrushed teeth traps plaque and food against them for hours. Brush, clean between your teeth, then put the retainer back.
• Take it out to eat. With a removable retainer in, stick to plain water. Anything sugary or acidic gets held against your teeth by the plastic, which is a quick route to decay and erosion.
• Let it dry in its case. When it is not in your mouth, it belongs in its case, not in a pocket or wrapped in a napkin.

What not to use

Toothpaste. It feels like the obvious choice, but toothpaste contains mild abrasives designed for enamel, which is far harder than retainer plastic. Over time it scratches the surface, making a clear retainer cloudy and giving plaque more places to cling. Patient guidance from the British Orthodontic Society advises against cleaning retainers with toothpaste because it can discolour them.

Hot or boiling water. Clear retainers are made from thermoplastic, which softens with heat. Very hot water, the dishwasher, a sunny car dashboard or a radiator can all warp it, and a retainer that has changed shape will not hold your teeth properly.

Harsh household products. Bleach, strong disinfectants and scouring pads can damage the plastic and any metal parts, and can leave residues you do not want in your mouth.

Anything that has not been rinsed off. Whatever you soak your retainer in, rinse it thoroughly before wearing it.

Soaks, tablets and ultrasonic cleaners

Brushing does most of the work, but many people like an occasional deeper clean, particularly if a white, chalky film builds up. That film is often mineral from saliva hardening on the plastic, in the same way tartar forms on teeth, and soap alone does not always shift it.

Retainer and aligner cleaning tablets or crystals. These dissolve in water to make a soaking solution. They are designed for clear plastic, which makes them a sensible first choice for a soak. Follow the instructions on the pack for water temperature and soaking time, and brush and rinse afterwards.

Denture cleaning tablets. Some people use these on retainers. They are designed for denture materials rather than clear retainer plastic, so check with the practice that made your retainer before using them. Many cleaning tablets contain persulfate, an ingredient that a small number of people are allergic to, which is one reason cleansers of this kind should always be rinsed off completely and never chewed, swallowed or used in the mouth. If your gums, lips or mouth become sore, itchy or irritated after using one, stop and ask us or a pharmacist. Our denture care guide covers these products in more detail.

Ultrasonic cleaners. These are small baths that vibrate the water at high frequency to loosen debris from the surface, often used with a cleaning tablet or solution. They can make a deeper clean easier, especially for the acrylic and wire type, but they do not replace daily brushing. Check that the cleaner’s instructions suit your retainer, and avoid any setting that heats the water.

We describe these as product types only. Bollington Dental Practice has no commercial relationship with any manufacturer of cleaning products, and the practice that made your retainer can tell you what suits its material.

Keeping the case clean, and keeping the retainer safe

A clean retainer in a dirty case does not stay clean for long. Wash the case every few days with warm soapy water, rinse it and let it air dry fully before closing it. A damp, closed case is exactly the environment bacteria and fungi prefer.

One of the commonest ways to lose a retainer is to wrap it in a napkin at a meal and see it thrown away. Dogs also have a habit of finding and chewing them. Using the case every time, and keeping it out of reach of pets, prevents most of these losses.

Fixed retainers need cleaning too

A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of the front teeth. You cannot take it out to clean it, so the cleaning happens in your mouth. Plaque and tartar collect readily along the wire and the gumline behind it, and inflamed gums are common if it is skipped. Brush carefully behind the teeth, angling the brush towards the wire, and clean between the teeth using floss threaders or small interdental brushes that pass under the wire. Your hygienist can show you the easiest technique, and regular professional cleaning helps shift what home care misses.

Run your tongue along the wire now and then. If part of it feels loose, a tooth seems to have moved, or the wire has come away from a tooth, contact whoever fitted it promptly, because a loose fixed retainer is no longer holding that tooth.

When a retainer needs replacing, and when to get help

Retainers do not last forever. Replace or have a removable retainer checked if it is cracked or split, has warped and no longer clicks snugly into place, feels tight in a way it never used to, or stays cloudy and smelly however well you clean it. Teeth can start to move quickly without a retainer that fits, so do not wait months. If you lose or break one, contact the practice that made it as soon as you can, and keep wearing an older retainer in the meantime if you still have one and it fits. How long and how often to wear retainers is covered in our guide to retainers after braces.

Most retainer problems are not urgent. A broken wire digging into your cheek or tongue can be covered with orthodontic wax until it is seen. If part of a retainer is swallowed and you feel well, call us or NHS 111 for advice. If a piece is inhaled, or anyone has difficulty breathing, call 999.

What we offer and what it costs

We provide ClearCorrect clear aligners, from £2,499, with a ClearCorrect consultation free for existing patients. We do not provide fixed braces. Retainers do not have a separate published price, so ask us. Hygienist appointments are £60 for 20 minutes or £89 for 30 minutes, for patients who have had an examination with us within the last year, and a new patient examination is £89 including X-rays. Everything is on our fees page.

If you live in or around Macclesfield, our dentist in Macclesfield page explains how to join the practice, our fees and how to find us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I clean my retainer with toothpaste?

It is better avoided. Toothpaste contains mild abrasives that scratch retainer plastic over time, making it cloudy and easier for plaque to cling to, and it can discolour it. A soft toothbrush with cool or lukewarm water and a little mild liquid soap cleans it effectively.

Can I put my retainer in hot water to clean it?

No. Clear retainers are made from plastic that softens with heat, so hot or boiling water, a dishwasher or a hot car can warp them. A warped retainer will not hold your teeth properly. Use cool or lukewarm water only.

How do I get the white film off my retainer?

The white film is usually mineral from saliva hardening on the plastic. Daily brushing stops it building up. To remove it, soak the retainer in a cleaning product made for retainers or aligners, following the pack instructions, then brush and rinse it. If it will not shift, ask the practice that made it.

How often should a retainer be replaced?

There is no fixed schedule. Replace it when it cracks, warps, no longer fits snugly or cannot be cleaned properly. Clear plastic retainers tend to wear out sooner than the acrylic and wire type. Bring it to your check-ups so your dentist can see how it is holding up.

Questions about your retainer?

If your retainer no longer fits, or you are thinking about straightening your teeth with ClearCorrect, we are happy to help. Call 01625 574609. New patient examinations are £89 including X-rays, and all our prices are on our fees page.

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