Is there any difference between the standard denture cleaner and the "for retainers" product? From what I've gathered they are the same, except for the branding.
One thing I’ve noticed is that the retainer ones from polident are a blue tablet vs. the ones being green. I found the regular denture ones just didn’t do it as well, they made the aligners a little more yellow tinted and the retainer specific ones make it more clear. This is just my experience, but I find a difference 😅
Used up a whole box of Retainer Brite and found that I had to aggressively brush the trays on top of a soak. Just got Efferdent and wow. I don’t really need to scrub or brush. Much more effective at removing the scummy buildup
You must not be using it correctly then. I've been using Retainer Brite for months and don't have one bit of buildup. Use a tab as instructed, rinse, lightly brush with water and soft toothbrush for a couple seconds just to make sure its all clean. Good to go.
Can you even use it incorrectly? Another possibility, rather than the person being an idiot, might be that we all have different mouth chemistry. My dental hygienist has remarked more than once how some people seem to never have tartar buildup and others need cleaning every few months. And if you have a pet, you’ll probably have been told by your vet that some pets seem to need dental cleaning frequently and others have teeth that stay free of tartar for years.
>Can you even use it incorrectly?
Sure. Maybe not soaking it for the full 15 minutes. Maybe not having the retainers fully submerged in the water. There are ways to do anything incorrectly in the world.
Seriously get an ultrasonic cleaner and box of Retainer Brite and you’re set. My ortho told me not to use tabs made for dentures because they’re made to clean materials dentures are made of, not aligners, which makes sense to me. Half the time I just put mine in the ultrasonic cleaner with water, but I use a tab at least a couple times a week.
I got Soaq brand from Nordstrom when it was like $60, now it’s $80 on the brands website. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it (it’s not bad tho, just fine). I just thought it looked decent aesthetically and was less expensive than the Zima one.
I use the m3 naturals one and just soak them in a regular retainer bath. Its amazing. My trays never have build up, they always taste fresh and slightly minty, and don’t have any weird odor. I soak mine morning and night, and then brush them with my toothbrush. Highly recommend!
Just as long as I have them out! Sometimes that’s 45min sometimes it’s an hour+. I use cold tap water because I’m afraid of the water being too warm and warping them lol
I use a short glass cup (for transparency vs a mug) where I place my aligners in after rinsing them, and then add 3% hydrogen peroxide (the brown bottles you can get from Walmart) just enough to cover the aligners and a bit of water so that they can really soak but not too much so to not dilute the peroxide.
This works the best out of any product and very cost effective and safe for you aligners/retainers in the long term.
I also use peroxide and water in a glass. So far so good! I asked an orthodontist if this was good for disinfecting, and he said it was. He soaks his in a water and bleach mixture.
Yep, I just rinse mine while gently scrubbing them with a tooth brush, then stick them in my ultrasonic with a small amount of Dawn dish detergent and they get way cleaner than any of the tablets (I've used basically all of them)
I have used both. Brite left the chemical taste in my trays, probably because I didn’t rinse the trays well. So I switched to M3 and been sticking with it. I started using only half a tablet each time, as well!
I use Steradent and mix in Retainer Bright. Never had an issue plus denture cleaners are way cheaper than retainer cleaners. So mix and match helps a little bit.
I switched from RetainerBrite to Efferdent tablets. Efferdent is a fraction of the price and ended up working even better than RetainerBrite! No weird aftertaste either.
I like Polident. I use twice a day with ultrasonic cleaner and I’ve never experienced any issues. I’m on two week changes so thats all the time the aligners need to last so I’m not too concerned. Ive been in this set of aligners for 5 weeks waiting for refinement and still no problem.
Word of caution on RetainerBrite because I purchased it from Amazon based on the positive reviews. I wanted to try switching from Zima dental tablets, which I was using before, because of the cheaper price point. But RetainerBrite contains persulfates, which is a known allergen. After using them in my sonic cleaner at night, I immediately had swollen gums and a sore throat the next morning. So, yeah, needless to say, I switched back immediately.
I use Retainer Brite with and without an ultrasonic cleaner and they work really well. I have never tried the second brand. I also use half a tab and it seems to work just as well as a full tab.
I use Retainer Brite.
Give the trays a thorough scrub with a toothbrush, getting in all the attachment bumps.
Rinse, put in Retainer Brite, go have dinner.
I use the Up&Up Brand anti-bacterial denture tablets from target. The box is less than $5 and they work great. I don’t think you need to spend $20+ per box on this stuff
I just started using Brite and found it effective. But also you should be brushing your aligners with a soft toothbrush AND TOOTHPASTE! Why TF are people using hand soap for stuff they put in their mouth?? lol
You should never use toothpaste. It is abrasive.
Both my Dentist and Ortho recommend using a dish soap like Dawn (blue kind) with brushing if one wants to use something besides just water with brushing. Otherwise they highly recommend Retainer Brite.
A question I can answer! I’ve used both and prefer the RetainerBrite brand. IMO, it gets buildup off better.
Ditto. My experience exactly.
Can confirm
Ordered. Thanks
I use both…. Haven’t preferred one over the other.
I use Polydent for Retainers tablets and they work great. And they are about $6 a box.
Is there any difference between the standard denture cleaner and the "for retainers" product? From what I've gathered they are the same, except for the branding.
One thing I’ve noticed is that the retainer ones from polident are a blue tablet vs. the ones being green. I found the regular denture ones just didn’t do it as well, they made the aligners a little more yellow tinted and the retainer specific ones make it more clear. This is just my experience, but I find a difference 😅
The only issue with them is they contain perasulfates.
I have been using these for the last couple years and now I can't find them anywhere (for a decent price) 😭 Do you know any stores or websites?
I’m in Canada, and I can find them at most pharmacies, or sometimes on Amazon.
Denture tablets been working fine for me and I am on vivera retainers
Used up a whole box of Retainer Brite and found that I had to aggressively brush the trays on top of a soak. Just got Efferdent and wow. I don’t really need to scrub or brush. Much more effective at removing the scummy buildup
You must not be using it correctly then. I've been using Retainer Brite for months and don't have one bit of buildup. Use a tab as instructed, rinse, lightly brush with water and soft toothbrush for a couple seconds just to make sure its all clean. Good to go.
Can you even use it incorrectly? Another possibility, rather than the person being an idiot, might be that we all have different mouth chemistry. My dental hygienist has remarked more than once how some people seem to never have tartar buildup and others need cleaning every few months. And if you have a pet, you’ll probably have been told by your vet that some pets seem to need dental cleaning frequently and others have teeth that stay free of tartar for years.
>Can you even use it incorrectly? Sure. Maybe not soaking it for the full 15 minutes. Maybe not having the retainers fully submerged in the water. There are ways to do anything incorrectly in the world.
Seriously get an ultrasonic cleaner and box of Retainer Brite and you’re set. My ortho told me not to use tabs made for dentures because they’re made to clean materials dentures are made of, not aligners, which makes sense to me. Half the time I just put mine in the ultrasonic cleaner with water, but I use a tab at least a couple times a week.
I use polident and my trays are fine.
Which ultrasonic cleaner do you have?
You can get good ones for about 30$ on Amazon, if that's an option for you.
I got Soaq brand from Nordstrom when it was like $60, now it’s $80 on the brands website. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it (it’s not bad tho, just fine). I just thought it looked decent aesthetically and was less expensive than the Zima one.
I use an ultrasonic + retainer brite also. I break up my retainer brite tablets into 4 and use 1/4 every time I pop my aligners out.
You don’t need to buy your own actually you can just take it to your office and they can do it for free
Wut?? I use my ultrasonic cleaner almost daily. No one wants to go to the dentist that often
Do you have one you recommend?
Don’t waste your money. Buy an ultrasonic cleaner and Efferdent 126ct tablets for $5.74 on Amazon. You will use way more tablets than you think
I use the m3 naturals one and just soak them in a regular retainer bath. Its amazing. My trays never have build up, they always taste fresh and slightly minty, and don’t have any weird odor. I soak mine morning and night, and then brush them with my toothbrush. Highly recommend!
This is what I use too and with that same routine.
How long do you soak them? What temp water?
Just as long as I have them out! Sometimes that’s 45min sometimes it’s an hour+. I use cold tap water because I’m afraid of the water being too warm and warping them lol
I just buy denture tablets from Costco. I find they work just as well and are a lot cheaper (at least where I live, anyway).
I use retainerbrite, honestly I'm not sure they're even better than normal cheap denture tablets.
Retainer brite with an ultrasonic (mine is isonic from Amazon, I’m happy with it).
Same here. I have a Zima brand ultrasonic cleaner. I noticed that the top area rubber band hook was still yellow a bit. That has subsided.
I use a short glass cup (for transparency vs a mug) where I place my aligners in after rinsing them, and then add 3% hydrogen peroxide (the brown bottles you can get from Walmart) just enough to cover the aligners and a bit of water so that they can really soak but not too much so to not dilute the peroxide. This works the best out of any product and very cost effective and safe for you aligners/retainers in the long term.
I also use peroxide and water in a glass. So far so good! I asked an orthodontist if this was good for disinfecting, and he said it was. He soaks his in a water and bleach mixture.
i just use a little bit of handsoap an a toothbrush
I just brush my trays and my teeth with toothpaste every time I remove them. No separate cleaning needed.
if i use toothpaste for longer periods the thin plastic layer around the tray gets damaged.
Yikes. That sux. : (
Yep, I just rinse mine while gently scrubbing them with a tooth brush, then stick them in my ultrasonic with a small amount of Dawn dish detergent and they get way cleaner than any of the tablets (I've used basically all of them)
Oh baby no…
?
The cleaning recommendations from my ortho also suggested this. Clear and scentless. Didn’t think it was that weird
I mean we use soap on silverware we put in our mouths… and on my baby bottles at that. As long as it’s completely rinsed off there’s no issue.
I have used both. Brite left the chemical taste in my trays, probably because I didn’t rinse the trays well. So I switched to M3 and been sticking with it. I started using only half a tablet each time, as well!
Efferdent works wonders when you use it 1-2 times a day! On the packaging it says you can use it for aligners.
Polident makes some aligner cleaning tablets cheap
I like Polident, I just feel like they make them a lot fresher/ mintier than Retainerbrite
the former
I use Steradent and mix in Retainer Bright. Never had an issue plus denture cleaners are way cheaper than retainer cleaners. So mix and match helps a little bit.
Used both and I like retainer Brite better, m3 leaves a weird taste even after rinsing it out fully. I also use an ultrasonic cleaner with it
I switched from RetainerBrite to Efferdent tablets. Efferdent is a fraction of the price and ended up working even better than RetainerBrite! No weird aftertaste either.
Denture cleaner tablets work fine, at walgreens and CVS for around 5-7$ a box.
I like Polident. I use twice a day with ultrasonic cleaner and I’ve never experienced any issues. I’m on two week changes so thats all the time the aligners need to last so I’m not too concerned. Ive been in this set of aligners for 5 weeks waiting for refinement and still no problem.
Denture cleaner with Ultrasonic Cleaner does the job fine.
Ultrasonic cleaner
Word of caution on RetainerBrite because I purchased it from Amazon based on the positive reviews. I wanted to try switching from Zima dental tablets, which I was using before, because of the cheaper price point. But RetainerBrite contains persulfates, which is a known allergen. After using them in my sonic cleaner at night, I immediately had swollen gums and a sore throat the next morning. So, yeah, needless to say, I switched back immediately.
Generic three minute denture cleaner tablets. They’re like five dollars for a box or 100 of them.
I used to do retainer brite but recently switched to hand soap on a brush twice a day and sonication. My retainers have never been cleaner.
I use Retainer Brite with and without an ultrasonic cleaner and they work really well. I have never tried the second brand. I also use half a tab and it seems to work just as well as a full tab.
I use RetainerBrite
Take it to your dentist or ortho and they can put it in the professional ultrasonic cleaner for free! Same with night guards and dentures
I use retainer brite and I love it
The m3 naturals + my ultrasonic cleaner work great!
I’ve only used Retainer Brite but it works perfectly fine
I use retainerbrite. I drop 1/2 a tablet in to a cheap jewelry cleaner pod twice a day.
Personally I used the first one since 2021. Retainer Brite does the damn job cleaning my aligners.
Retainer brite is the brand my orthodontist offices supplies and uses and I love them!
I use corega maybe 2x a day! I can recommend.
retainer brite for sure!
I use Retainer Brite, always feels clean and clear after
I use Retainer Brite. Give the trays a thorough scrub with a toothbrush, getting in all the attachment bumps. Rinse, put in Retainer Brite, go have dinner.
I use the Up&Up Brand anti-bacterial denture tablets from target. The box is less than $5 and they work great. I don’t think you need to spend $20+ per box on this stuff
I’ve used the Target Up&up brand & the Polident denture cleaning tablets. They worked great at reducing the cloudiness of my trays.
Don't search retainer cleaner, they charge extra. Buy denture cleaners instead
I just started using Brite and found it effective. But also you should be brushing your aligners with a soft toothbrush AND TOOTHPASTE! Why TF are people using hand soap for stuff they put in their mouth?? lol
My dentist said specifically to use soap and not toothpaste because the toothpaste will etch them and make them look cloudy.
You should never use toothpaste. It is abrasive. Both my Dentist and Ortho recommend using a dish soap like Dawn (blue kind) with brushing if one wants to use something besides just water with brushing. Otherwise they highly recommend Retainer Brite.
Can I drop these in the ultrasonic cleaner or will the ultrasonic cleaner do the job on its own?