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Retainer care: cold or warm water? (conflicting info)

Posted , 3 users are following.

cmh395
cmh395

I'm getting conflicting information about whether to soak retainers in warm or cold water. Some sources (including instructions from a brand of retainer cleaning tablets) say warm, whereas others say cold, including the retainer care instructions paper my orthodontics practice gave to me today which says to not soak it in warm or hot water.

I ask because I accidentally soaked it in lukewarm (room temp or slightly above, like roughly 70°) water for a minute before reading that part on the paper. I then promptly removed and soaked in cold instead. The retainers still fit afterwards but I don't know if that means there wasn't any distortion. Any thoughts?

I also notice these retainers are noticeably flimsier than the ones my prior orthodontist gave me, although both supposedly essix. Does this make a difference regarding potential distortion?

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • barney34567
    barney34567 cmh395

    Posted

    It is best to follow advice from your orthodontist.

    I suggest you email his/her office for advice as to care for the retainers.

    Do not mention the conflict you read between the brand's advice

    and what you saw online.

  • georgia80411
    georgia80411 cmh395

    Posted

    You need to use lukewarm water. using hot water can warp the custom plastic and cold water may not kill bacteria well enough

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