How to clean a retainer

Page updated October 14, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Thomas and Dr. Jennifer Loucks-Buren.

To clean a removable retainer, rinse it in lukewarm water every time you take it out, brush it daily with a soft toothbrush and mild dish soap (not toothpaste), and soak it once a week in a retainer cleaning tablet or solution. Never use hot water, bleach or alcohol mouthwash. A permanent retainer is cleaned in your mouth with floss threaders, interdental brushes or a water flosser.

Why cleaning your retainer matters

A retainer sits against your teeth in saliva, so it picks up bacteria, plaque and food all day. Left alone, bacteria multiply and form plaque, which can harden into tartar that's much harder to remove and can irritate your gums (AAO). A dirty retainer can also smell, stain, and wear out sooner: plaque, sugars and acids can degrade acrylic and plastic until the retainer warps, cracks or loses its shape, which means an early replacement (AAO). Healthline adds that retainers can harbor bacteria such as Streptococcus and the yeast Candida albicans, which matter more if your immune system is weakened (Healthline).

Replacements cost money. Healthline's published prices run from $100 for a clear Essix retainer to $1,200 for a set of Vivera retainers (Healthline), and replacements may not be included in your treatment fee (AAO). See retainer costs.

The daily routine

1. Rinse every time it comes out. Lukewarm water, as soon as you remove it, so saliva and food don't dry on; even a 10-second rinse helps (AAO). Healthline says to clean it while it's still wet (Healthline).
2. Brush it once a day. Use a toothbrush you keep just for the retainer, and mild dish soap or a retainer cleanser (AAO). A soft toothbrush or denture brush works; scrub gently (Healthline).
3. Get into the grooves. A cotton swab reaches the deepest ridges of a clear retainer (Healthline).
4. Brush your teeth too before the retainer goes back in (Healthline).
5. Clean the case. Healthline suggests once a day in warm, soapy water, then rinse and pat dry (Healthline).

Why not toothpaste? Many toothpastes contain baking soda or other abrasives that leave tiny scratches on the retainer, where discoloration and bacteria build up (AAO).

Deep cleaning once a week

The AAO suggests one of these once a week (AAO):

If you have a Hawley retainer, don't leave it soaking too long in tablets: Healthline warns that long soaks can corrode the metal parts, so soak only as long as the package says (Healthline).

Which retainer cleaners to use

You don't need anything expensive. The AAO's list of safe options is mild dish soap, specialized retainer cleansers, retainer cleaning tablets or solutions, hydrogen peroxide diluted with water, and ultrasonic cleaners (AAO). Healthline suggests asking your dentist about denture or retainer tablets such as Efferdent or Polident: one tablet in a cup of lukewarm water, following the package timing (Healthline).

Tablets aren't magic. Healthline cites a study on Essix retainers in which chemical cleaning tablets didn't reduce bacteria any more than simple brushing, though they were better at removing one group of bacteria, including Streptococcus (Healthline). Daily brushing does most of the work; tablets and soaks are the weekly extra. If you'd like a fresher smell, the AAO says to avoid soaking in standard mouthwash and to use an alcohol-free rinse only briefly (AAO).

We don't test or rank cleaning products. Whatever you buy, check that it's made for retainers or dentures, and ask your orthodontist if you're unsure (AAO).

Cleaning by retainer type

Not sure which you have? Compare them on types of retainers.

How to clean a permanent retainer

A bonded wire traps plaque easily, which can lead to decay, gum inflammation and bad smells; floss threaders, interdental brushes or a water flosser help clean around it and under the gumline (AAO). Healthline's flossing steps (Healthline):

1. Take a 6-inch piece of floss and use a floss threader to pass it between your two lower front teeth.
2. Hold one end with your fingers and the other with the threader.
3. With the floss under the wire, move it up and down between the teeth to the gumline, and gently just below it if you can.
4. Slide it sideways to the next gap and pull it down between the teeth.
5. Repeat for every tooth bonded to the retainer.

Ask your dentist or orthodontist to show you if it's hard at first (Healthline). More on permanent retainers.

Mistakes to avoid

• Hot or boiling water. High temperatures warp plastic and change the fit; if water feels too hot on your skin, it's too hot for your retainer (AAO).
• Other heat. Keep it away from microwaves, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and the car dashboard (Healthline).
• Harsh chemicals. Bleach, alcohol-based mouthwash and strong detergents can degrade the material, leave residues and irritate your gums (AAO).
• Abrasive or whitening toothpaste (AAO).
• Skipping rinses, which lets saliva and plaque dry on (AAO).
• Leaving it on a napkin while you eat, where it's easily thrown away, or where pets can reach it; pets are drawn to the smell of saliva (Healthline) (AAO).

When to replace a retainer or its case

Retainers wear out like shoes or contact lenses. Healthline says clear Essix retainers may last only 6 months to a few years because the plastic wears, while a Hawley retainer can last 5 to 10 years with good care (Healthline). Contact your orthodontist if yours is very dirty, worn out or no longer fits (Healthline). Replace the case too if it's cracked, worn, or still smells after cleaning, because an old case can put bacteria straight back on a clean retainer (AAO).

Smells, stains and cracks

It still smells or looks stained. Try a stronger or more frequent deep clean, such as a cleaning tablet or a baking soda paste. If that doesn't work, see your orthodontist: the retainer may have tiny cracks that let bacteria linger (AAO). Coffee and tea can stain clear retainers (AAO).

It's cracked, warped or a wire is loose. Stop wearing it and contact your orthodontist. Wearing a damaged retainer can move your teeth the wrong way or irritate your mouth; wear a backup if you have one (AAO).

It fits differently. A retainer that feels tight or loose may have warped, or your teeth may be shifting. If it doesn't feel normal again within a day or two, or it hurts, get it checked (AAO).

Tartar won't come off. Take it to your dentist or orthodontist, who has solutions that remove stubborn tartar (Healthline).

Traveling? Pack a soft brush, mild soap or retainer cleanser and a compact case (AAO).