Why Does My Retainer Smell Bad?
You went to put your retainer in before bed, but when you opened the case a horrible smell jumped out at you. What in the world happened to your retainer during the day? Can retainers really rot? While it isn’t uncommon for retainers to develop a smell, there is something you can do about it, as well as things you can do to avoid it happening to begin with.
What Causes a Retainer to Smell?
While you may think your mouth is only home to your teeth, the truth is your mouth is full of natural bacteria. As bacteria thrive, it releases gas as a form of waste. This contributes to bad breath and the smell you experience from your retainer. In addition, bacteria contribute to the development of plaque and tartar on your teeth, as well as on your retainer. If plaque is allowed to accumulate on the retainer, it eventually develops a strong odour. Not exactly something you want to put in your mouth. Luckily, with regular care, you can help reduce the risk of buildup and avoid the smell.
What Can You Do to Reduce the Risk or Remove Smell?
When it comes to your retainer and avoiding a bad smell, it all comes down to how you care for your teeth and your retainer. Regular cleaning is the only way to keep bacteria, plaque, and tartar in check. Let’s take a look at exactly what you need to do.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene to Keep Your Breath and Retainer From Smelling
Keeping your retainer from smelling begins with your mouth and not your retainer. Good oral hygiene is essential. At a minimum, you should be brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. But that isn’t always enough. In order to keep that bacteria in check, you need to make sure you are removing all hidden food particles that the bacteria feed on. This means brushing after every meal and flossing at least once a day is very important. While you may not be able to find hidden food particles between your teeth, the bacteria can!
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Retainer
Just like on your teeth, plaque, tartar, and bacteria can build up on the surface of your retainer. This build-up contributes to the bad smell you may experience. While brushing and flossing your teeth are important to keep these things in check, regular cleaning of your retainer is also important.
And that is it, if you are in need of any further information or in case your retainer has broken be sure to get in touch with Northenden House Orthodontics today at 0161 884 1481.
- Mohammad Malik
