How to Clean Retainers: A Simple Guide for Parents (Clear, Wire & Permanent)

Your kid finally got their braces off, and now there’s a retainer living in your house. It goes in their mouth every night, comes out every morning, and if nobody cleans it, it gets cloudy, smelly, and coated in plaque surprisingly fast.

Here’s a simple, mom-friendly guide on how to clean retainers the right way, including clear plastic retainers (like Essix and Invisalign-style trays), traditional wire Hawley retainers, and permanent bonded ones. Plus the common mistakes that can ruin a retainer, which is expensive to replace.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This article is general information, not dental advice. Always follow the specific instructions from your child’s orthodontist.

First, Know Which Type of Retainer You Have

• Clear plastic retainers (Essix-style): Thin, transparent trays that cover the teeth. Clear aligners like Invisalign look similar and are cared for in a similar way.
• Hawley retainers: The classic style, with a molded acrylic piece that sits against the roof of the mouth and a metal wire across the front teeth.
• Bonded (permanent) retainers: A thin wire glued to the back of the teeth. These can’t be removed, so they’re cleaned as part of brushing.

The Daily Retainer Cleaning Routine

The easiest way to keep a retainer clean is to make it part of the morning routine, right after it comes out.

1. Rinse it right away. Rinse with cool or lukewarm water as soon as it comes out, before saliva and debris dry on it.
2. Brush it gently. Use a soft toothbrush that’s only for the retainer. A tiny bit of mild, unscented dish soap is fine. A cotton swab helps with the little ridges and corners.
3. Rinse again to remove all the soap.
4. Store it in its case (or follow your orthodontist’s storage instructions).

Before it goes back in at night, your child should brush their teeth first so they’re not trapping food against their teeth all night.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Toothpaste on Most Retainers

This one surprises a lot of parents. Regular toothpaste is mildly abrasive. On clear plastic retainers, it can leave tiny scratches that make the plastic look cloudy and give bacteria more places to cling. Colgate specifically advises against brushing clear plastic retainers with toothpaste, and WebMD recommends avoiding regular toothpaste and using a gentle paste of equal parts baking soda and water instead when you need a little extra scrubbing power.

Never Use Hot Water

This is the number one way retainers get ruined. Hot water, boiling, or the dishwasher can warp the plastic, and a warped retainer won’t fit properly. Stick to cool or lukewarm water only, and keep retainers out of hot cars and away from heaters and stoves.

How to Deep Clean a Retainer

Daily brushing handles most of the buildup, but a regular soak helps keep retainers fresh and clear.

Retainer or Denture Cleaning Tablets

Effervescent retainer cleaning tablets are the easiest option for busy families. Drop one into a cup of lukewarm water, add the retainer, and follow the package directions for soak time. Then rinse well. Colgate notes Hawley retainers can be soaked periodically in a denture-cleanser-type solution, and that clear retainers should get a deeper clean with a cleaner your orthodontist recommends.

Baking Soda Soak

Dissolve a spoonful of baking soda in a cup of lukewarm water and let the retainer soak, then rinse and brush. WebMD notes that clear plastic retainers (with no metal) can handle baking soda soaks more often, while Hawley retainers shouldn’t soak too long or too frequently because it may affect the metal parts.

Clean the Case, Too

The case may actually carry more bacteria than the retainer itself. Wash it with warm, soapy water a few times a week, rinse, and let it air dry fully.

How to Clean Each Type of Retainer

Clear Plastic Retainers (Essix and Invisalign-Style)

• Rinse when removed and brush gently with a soft brush and mild soap, no toothpaste.
• Use only cool or lukewarm water.
• If your child wears it while eating or drinking, have them remove it first, or at least rinse and brush it after. Drinks like tea, coffee, and colored sports drinks can stain clear plastic.
• Deep clean with a soak your orthodontist recommends.

Hawley Retainers

• Brush daily with a soft toothbrush, cool or lukewarm water, and mild soap.
• Soak occasionally in a denture-cleanser-type solution.
• Keep soaks short, so you’re not overexposing the metal wire.
• Always store it in its case.

Bonded (Permanent) Retainers

• Brush carefully along the wire every time your child brushes.
• Use floss threaders to floss between the teeth under the wire.
• Keep up with regular dental cleanings, since plaque can build up around the wire.

What NOT to Use on a Retainer

• Hot or boiling water, or the dishwasher. Heat can warp it.
• Bleach. It’s too harsh and can damage the retainer.
• Alcohol-based mouthwash as a soak. Alcohol can dry out and damage the material.
• Regular toothpaste on clear plastic.
• Harsh scrubbing with stiff brushes.

Mom Tips for Keeping Track of Retainers

Lost retainers are a rite of passage, but they’re not cheap. A few things that help:

• Case, never napkin. Most lost retainers get wrapped in a napkin at lunch and thrown away. Make “retainer goes in the case” a firm family rule.
• Get a brightly colored case that’s easy to spot in a backpack or on a lunch table. A vented retainer case also lets it air out.
• Keep it away from the dog. Dogs love chewing retainers. Seriously. Keep the case up high.
• Build it into the routine. (Kids thrive on consistent routines and small rewards.) Retainer out, rinse, brush, case, then breakfast. Retainer in after nighttime teeth brushing.

When to Call the Orthodontist

Reach out to your child’s orthodontist if the retainer is cracked, warped, suddenly feels tight or loose, has a bent wire, or has buildup you can’t remove. They can also tell you exactly which cleaning products are safe for your child’s specific retainer.

The Bottom Line

Rinse it, gently brush it with mild soap (not toothpaste), soak it regularly, and keep it away from heat. A few minutes a day keeps your child’s retainer clear, fresh, and fitting the way it should. For more on healthy habits, see our tips for growing healthy children.