Dental covers, also known as retainers, splints and post-orthodontics, have to be cleaned in a certain way so that they do not transmit bacteria to our mouth and last as long as possible without being damaged or deformed. This is why we are going to explain how to clean them in less than 1 minute and leave them as new.
The mouth is the beginning of our digestive system, all bacteria and infections can enter the bloodstream and lodge in the heart, causing serious health problems and even death in the worst cases. It is something that few people know, and we want to refresh our memory and remember it again.
Oral hygiene is very importantIn fact, on average, we should brush our teeth after each meal, at least 3 times a day, with a paste rich in fluoride, a suitable mouthwash, use dental floss and also clean our tongue.
Many times we have been told that boiling water is the best solution to kill bacteria and it is true, but it is true for food or kitchen tools. It is also good for disinfecting bottles, teats, pacifiers, and others, but not for this type of covers or dental splints. It's usually a tough plastic, but not suitable for high temperatures, since it can be deformed and it would no longer fit in our mouths and we would have to pay for a new one, and they are not cheap.
Toothbrush
The toothbrush is our best ally. We will use it in all cleaning tips for our dental retainer or splint. What we will do is use a new toothbrush, not the same one we use for our mouth, and with toothpaste we clean the inside and outside of the dental cover.
Then we rinse it in lukewarm water and store it in the box that must also be cleaned once a day. However, the transparent cover we must clean it at least twice a day and you always have to brush your teeth before placing it.
We can make exceptions, such as the days we eat away from home, but make few exceptions, since these bacteria can create bad breath odor, cavities and other damage to the mouth.
Odorless neutral soap
Many of us will think that the smell is better, but the thing is that the soap itself has flavor and there are perfumed ones. If we put that perfumed in our mouth, a somewhat unpleasant mixture of smells and sensations can be created. that's why always better neutral and odorless soap, to play it safe.
To clean with soap we can use our fingers or a previously washed toothbrush. We do not recommend using our toothbrush as it would be an extra bacteria not recommended.
Moisten the toothbrush and put soap in the transparent case, rub gently and then rinse with lukewarm water until all traces of soap and foam are removed. We wash the brush and put on the splint or put it in its case, which should always be clean and dry.
Chlorine diluted in water
Some professionals give the idea of dilute bleach in twice as much water and spray it on the cover and scrub gently with a toothbrush or with our own fingers. Care must be taken, since if the splint is not made of a good material, over time, and the use of chlorine, it could be affected.
It is best to ask our dentist what method he recommends so that our transparent cover lasts a few years in the best possible conditions. He has experience and I am sure that many of his patients have made mistakes that we can avoid.
Another drawback of this method to clean our dental cover is that it is not suitable for a child to do it, or someone with sensitive skin or some atypical condition that, when in contact with chlorine, can worsen such as wounds, dermatitis, allergies, hives, pimples, etc.
denture cleaner
There are countless denture cleaners on the market. We give this option, because there are many people who are a bit reluctant to hold a denture or a dental cover with their hands.
It is true that it will always be cleaner if we rub with a toothbrush and toothpaste or soap, than if we leave the transparent cover submerged in cleaning liquid. Better that, not cleaning it is also true. Another option is to ask a third person to clean it for us.
That's why we advocate more for the other cleaning tips above. Even so, we put the effervescent tablet in the water and we insert the splint between 5 and 10 minutes. Then we take it out, drain and dry it and place it or store it in its corresponding case.
Other tips
To keep our dental splint for as long as possible and in the best possible conditions, a series of tips must be taken into account and of course, handle it as little as possible to extend its useful life.
- Do not use it to eat or drink, except to drink water.
- Always keep it in its box.
- Wash the box daily and dry it so that it does not breed bacteria due to moisture.
- Do not use corrosive products.
- If it is broken, replace it with a new one.
- If it yellows, it must be changed.
- Do not use boiling water.
- Do not exert a lot of force when cleaning.
- Make sure that children do the cleaning, and if they are very young, have an adult do it.
- The splint must be handled delicately.
- We must always keep it dry, so that bacteria do not proliferate. If the case smells bad when you open it, there are bacteria and we have to clean everything thoroughly.
- Do not share the splint with anyone.
- Do not use toilet paper or napkins to dry them because they leave traces of cellulose.
- Avoid cleaning it with used clothing, used towels, wet wipes, etc.
There are home methods that many people use, but we do not recommend them 100%, such as using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, bleach diluted in water, pure lemon juice, dishwasher detergent, etc.