Why Does My Retainer Smell?
Your retainer is a vital part of your dental care plan, helping to keep your teeth in their new positions after your braces have been removed. But if your retainer smells terrible, the last place you want to put it is in your mouth. Why does this happen, and is there anything you can do about it? Read on to find out.
What Causes Retainer Odor?
An awful-smelling retainer can have a number of causes, including bacteria and odor transfer.
Bacteria
Bacteria are naturally present throughout our bodies, including in the mouth. When large amounts of bacteria accumulate on your retainer, they produce waste in the form of gas, which can cause your retainer to smell.
Poor Oral Hygiene
What’s worse than a lot of bacteria? A buildup of both living and dead bacteria. Poor oral hygiene leads to tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth, and bacteria can accumulate on your retainer. The longer they remain, the stronger the odor becomes.
Food Particles
Just like the hundreds of bacteria that live in our mouths, any food particles left behind without proper brushing, flossing, or rinsing will be broken down by bacteria, eventually releasing odor-causing gasses.
Odor Transfer
The growth of bacteria that cause odors by breaking down food particles are also responsible for creating plaque and tartar on your teeth, which can contribute to bad smells. If these aren’t effectively removed, the bacteria and their odors can transfer to your retainer. Without proper cleaning, the odor can even build up inside your retainer case.
How to Prevent Retainer Smell
If your retainer smells bad, you have several options to correct it now, and prevent it in the future.
Clean Your Teeth Well
Ensuring your teeth are properly cleaned will not only help to prevent a smelly retainer, but will also help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other health problems related to poor oral hygiene. Ask your dentist to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques, and ensure you do this every day.
Keep Your Dentist Appointments
Along with proper cleaning at home, you’ll also want to visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. This is very important for those with permanent retainers, as food particles, bacteria, plaque, and tartar can be far more difficult to remove without assistance from your dentist.
Clean Your Retainer, Too
Just like our teeth, all types of retainers require special attention to ensure they’re free of bacteria.
If you wear a fixed retainer, use a floss threader to remove buildup from between your teeth, as well as under and around your retainer’s wires.
Removable wire and plastic retainers can be cleaned by gently using a soft toothbrush and then soaking the retainer in a cleanser specifically formulated for your dental appliance. This is to prevent damage or discoloration to your retainer.
Don’t Forget Your Case
A smelly removable retainer can cause your case to smell, and can result in bacteria being transferred back and forth. That being said, be sure to clean your case with warm water and soap every time you clean your retainer. You can also get a new case if you can’t remove the smell.
Should You Use Denture Cleaners? What About Vinegar and Baking Soda?
Many denture cleaners on the market contain harsh ingredients that can permanently damage your retainer. Similarly, prolonged use of vinegar and baking soda can also lead to irreversible harm to your retainer’s materials.
Ola Fresh is a gentle but effective retainer cleaner formulated to give your dental appliance a thorough cleaning without the risk of damage. And it’s easy to use—simply mix one packet of Ola Fresh in a cup of slightly warm water and submerge your retainer for up to 30 minutes. You can even leave your retainer in the Ola Fresh solution overnight!
Ola Fresh is available in convenient 3-month, 6-month and 12-month packs. Don’t wait to remove unpleasant odor from your retainer—learn more and order your supply of Ola Fresh today!
