How To Deep Clean Dirty Retainers. To clean the retainers properly, you mustn’t use toothpaste as it can damage the retainer, the only thing you have to do is water the aligner and the brush with warm water and brush it as you do with your teeth, then rinse the aligner. Chandiramani says you can use a cleaning tablet and soak them until they're clean.
(you could do a full strength white vinegar solution, too, if needed.) place your retainer in the vinegar solution. The vinegar will help break up the ‘ barnacle ‘ looking mineral deposit on your retainer. Soak your crusty retainer in a warm bowl of half white vinegar/half warm water for 20 minutes.
When you take out your retainers to eat, soak them in this solution for up to 30 minutes.
Mouthwash can be used to remove smells from retainers, but check over the ingredients list and be sure your mouthwash does not contain alcohol, which can distort plastic retainers. To clean retainers with vinegar, set your removable retainer in a small glass bowl and pour vinegar in the bowl until the retainer is just covered. Use a soft toothbrush or denture brush to gently scrub away plaque and other debris. Don’t use the same toothbrush you use on your teeth;