How do you clean a clear retainer?
The American Association of Orthodontists and the British Orthodontic Society agree on how a clear retainer is brushed and rinsed, and the toothpaste question splits even the AAO’s own pages.
A clear retainer is rinsed and brushed, never in hot water. The American Association of Orthodontists’ 2025 guide says to rinse it in lukewarm water whenever it comes out and brush it daily with its own toothbrush and dish soap; the British Orthodontic Society’s leaflet says a toothbrush and cold water. Both say no toothpaste, which the BOS says can roughen and discolor a retainer.
The AAO’s and the BOS’s cleaning steps, side by side
Side by side, the AAO’s and the BOS’s retainer cleaning steps line up closely, with one difference in the water.
| Step | AAO cleaning guide, June 5, 2025 | BOS retainers leaflet, 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Lukewarm, each time the retainer comes out; avoid hot water, which can damage it | Cold water |
| Brushing | Every day, with a toothbrush kept for the retainer, and dish soap | Gently, with a toothbrush, over a sink, taking care not to drop it |
| Toothpaste | Avoid it | Do not use it; it can roughen the retainer and change its color |
Toothpaste on a clear retainer: where the AAO’s own pages disagree
Toothpaste is where the guidance splits, and the split runs through the AAO itself. Its 2025 guide says, “Avoid using toothpaste,” and the BOS leaflet agrees, saying toothpaste can roughen a retainer and change its color.
The AAO’s older page, “Retainer Care 101”, dated October 27, 2017 and still live, says the opposite: “When prescribed a retainer, your orthodontist will provide detailed instructions for care and cleaning, including brushing with toothpaste before you put them in or after they are removed.”
The older page itself names the tie-breaker: your orthodontist provides the detailed instructions. The newer AAO guide and the BOS both leave toothpaste out, and if the instructions you were given say otherwise, ask your orthodontist which to follow.
What damages a clear retainer: heat, a missing case and a few habits
Heat is the warning the AAO repeats. Its October 21, 2026 guidance says, “Heat is a particular concern for plastic retainers,” and that hot water, a hot car or other high temperatures can damage or warp some retainer materials.
The case covers breakage and loss. The AAO’s retainers page says, “Always put the retainer in its protective case when you’re not wearing it,” which it says keeps a retainer clean and lowers the risk of breakage or loss. It also recommends taking a removable retainer out to eat, and the BOS leaflet warns that clicking one in and out with the tongue can break or loosen it.
Drinks are about the teeth under the plastic. The AAO’s 2017 care page says wearers of clear retainers of this kind may be advised to drink only water with the retainer in, because liquids can seep in and be held against the teeth; the BOS page says, “You must never eat or drink with the retainer in place.” Your orthodontist’s instruction decides, and a cracked retainer is handled in the answer on orthodontic emergencies.
Bringing a clear retainer to visits, and what the practice decides
A retainer gets checked as well as cleaned. The AAO’s FAQ says, “Your orthodontist may schedule periodic retainer checks after you receive your retainers. If you have removable retainers, be sure to bring them to the appointment.” The BOS leaflet asks the same: “Please bring your retainers with you to each visit.”
When and how the practice checks your retainer is a question for the practice, and which retainer you wear is the subject of the practice’s retainers page. A child’s or teen’s retainer comes to visits the same way; the page on orthodontics for children and teens deals with treatment at those ages.
Clear retainer care, beyond the toothbrush
Can I soak a clear retainer in a cleaning tablet?
The daily steps in the AAO’s 2025 guide and the BOS’s 2019 leaflet use water, a toothbrush and, for the AAO, dish soap. For a tablet or other soaking product, ask your orthodontist whether it suits your retainer, and keep the water lukewarm or cold, since the AAO warns that hot water can damage a retainer.
Can a clear retainer go in the dishwasher?
Not by the AAO’s guidance on heat: its October 21, 2026 guidance says hot water, a hot car or other high temperatures can damage or warp some retainer materials, and a dishwasher cleans with hot water.
How is a fixed retainer cleaned, compared with a clear one?
A fixed retainer stays in place all the time, as the British Orthodontic Society describes it, so it is cleaned on the teeth rather than in the hand. The AAO says its wire can easily trap plaque and debris, and that cleaning around it and under the gum line with floss threaders, interdental brushes or a water flosser can help reduce that risk. The glossary’s fixed retainer entry says what the wire is.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists, How to Clean Retainers: AAO’s Guide to Retainer Care
- British Orthodontic Society, Retainers, patient information leaflet (2019)
- British Orthodontic Society, Retainers
- British Orthodontic Society, FAQs
- American Association of Orthodontists, Retainer Care 101: Ensuring Long-Term Orthodontic Success
- American Association of Orthodontists, My Retainer Feels Tight or Doesn’t Fit. Should I Force It?
- American Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic Retainers: Types, Care, & Life After Braces
- American Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic FAQs: Your Questions Answered (read November 6, 2026)
- American Association of Orthodontists, Why Do Dogs Eat Orthodontic Retainers?
Ask about clear retainer care during a consultation
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