Retainer breath

Message

#1 Post by **cindygale** » Thu May 29, 2008 5:30 pm

Can people really get what they call "retainer breath" from wearing retainers?

Is this common

#2 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:26 pm

my retainer smells fine. I clean it regularly and only have a "breath issue" in the morning, but it's not anything beyond "morning breath".

A clean retainer is a GOOD THING!

#3 Post by **SnowSara** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:47 pm

Haha, I think it must be similar to denture breath! My ortho initially told me I could soak my essix retainer weekly in a effervescent denture cleaner, but only a 5 or so days in I noticed it started to smell so instead I do it a few times a week. I also rinse and brush it daily. No more stinky retainer!

#4 Post by **TsuKata** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:46 am

During my first week of wearing the retainer, I was brushing it with water and the scrubbing brush my dentist gave me daily, but it did start getting a funk.

So, I ended up switching to soaking it every day instead of once a week, using Retainer Brite or Efferdent. (My retainer doesn't have solder points.) I also started doing my best to keep it in water or a water/mouthwash mix when it wasn't in my mouth (e.g., mealtimes at home). Those changes seem to have mitigated the retainer funk.

#5 Post by **TsuKata** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:17 pm

I was told specifically not to use toothpaste, and I've read that in other places as well. So yeah, just water.

#6 Post by **SnowSara** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:45 am

Same here, I was told to swish with mouthwash with them in, then take them out, give them a quick brush and a rinse. No toothpaste on the essix retainer (although someone here mentioned that they use a gel type toothpaste to no ill effect, but i happen to like my paste and am not taking any chances).

#7 Post by **Jamesyeats** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:41 am

I have a removable brace, and was told to clean it just with normal soap on a toothbrush. It needs lots of rinsing and scrubbing after to get rid of the soap taste, but I was told that toothpaste is abrasive and would make the acrylic less shiny and could affect my speech.

#8 Post by **TigerLily** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:44 pm

I brushed my bite plate (like a Hawley) with toothpaste but I remember reading something on a US ortho's website saying not to brush Hawleys with toothpaste but with a liquid soap.

I did try that once with castile soap but even with lots of rinsing, it still tasted very soapy. Was nice and clean though! And smelt of lavender.

#9 Post by **joplin** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:06 am

Nobody told me not to use toothpaste on my Hawley so I have. Never came to think about whether it is OK or not. I hope it is!