What to Use to Clean Retainers Without Ruining Them

If you're staring at that cloudy piece of plastic in your hand and wondering what to use to clean retainers, you're definitely not alone. Most of us leave the orthodontist's office with a shiny new smile and a plastic tray, but the instructions on how to actually keep that tray from turning into a science experiment are often a bit vague. It doesn't take long—maybe just a few days of popping it in and out—before you notice it getting a bit murky or, frankly, smelling a little funky. ...

May 4, 2026 · 7 min · Lurdes Olea