How to clean retainers with baking soda

Your retainer will keep collecting bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your mouth while you wear it. Over time, it may even start to smell or taste funny if you don’t clean it often enough.

More importantly, retainers can harbor dangerous bacteria like Streptococcus, including S.

sanguinis, S. mitis, and S. salivarius, in addition to Lactobacillus and Veillonella. While many bacteria are normally found in the mouth, when too many build up, they can cause illness.

You may also become exposed to Candida albicans.

Should i clean my retainers in the morning or at night

This is detrimental yeast that’s normally found inside the mouth, but it may accumulate on your retainer and cause an infection.

Streptococcus and Candida may not be big threats if you have a healthy immune system.

If your immune system is compromised in some way, though, you need to be more careful. Let your doctor know right away if you notice any redness, swelling, or other worrisome symptoms in your mouth.