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How do orthodontists clean retainers so well - and can you do it at home too?
If you sleep with a retainer, you're probably familiar with this โ cleaning, rinsing, scrubbing, and still there's an odor, an aftertaste, and the feeling that it's not truly clean.
But at the orthodontist's? The retainer gleams and looks brand new.
What's their secret? We decided to find out.
We spoke with dentists - and they revealed the secret to us
Our editorial team approached several orthodontists and dentists, asking the question we all wonder: How do you clean retainers so well? The answer we received was almost identical from everyone (but we slightly rephrased it): "It's not magic - it's technology."
They explained that they have been using ultrasonic cleaning devices for years - a technology that uses high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic bubbles in water, which explode on the retainer and remove plaque, fats, and odors even from places the brush can never reachยนยฒยณ.
"This is the exact same technology used for cleaning medical equipment and delicate dental instruments," explains one of the experts, "It is very gentle, but cleans thoroughly in a way that cannot be achieved manually."โด
Until recently - only at the dentist's
These devices were until recently only available in clinics: large, expensive, and intended for professional use only. But in the last year, this technology has finally become available for home useโต - thus opening a whole new door for people who finished the process some time ago and now sleep with a retainer every night.
VeraWave Pro - the same professional cleaning, right in your home
We conducted an experiment, asked the experts for a recommendation for a home ultrasonic device, and they sent us to Numa Dental, who market the VeraWave Pro, based on the Ultrasonic BioLiftยฎ system. It effectively adjusts the cleaning intensity for the retainer - and successfully removes bacteria, odors, and fats using only water.
You fill the small tank with water, place the retainer, press a button - and the retainer becomes clean exactly like after a cleaning at the orthodontist's. We also tried it, and after a week or two, we already started to see a change.
What do the experts say?
Ultrasonic cleaning is a safe and effective solution for retainers, and they are happy that there is now a home solution - they even recommend it to their patients. It does not scratch the plastic, does not affect transparency, and prevents the accumulation of bacteria that can harm teeth and gumsยณโต.
Most people clean their retainers with soap, water, or tablets, but according to studiesโต - this is not enough to remove biofilm and bacteria in the long term. Using ultrasonic cleaning significantly reduces the formation of odors and stains and protects the enamel.
Team Conclusions
The price is a bit high, but in relation to the results, the efficiency compared to other devices, and the long-term investment - it is a fair price.
Update
After the article was published, we received inquiries from people who purchased imitations of the device that do not meet the required standards. Use of these devices may cause damage to the retainer and shape distortion due to uncontrolled cleaning intensities. These devices are not associated with Numa Dental or the original VeraWave Proโข product.
[1] Chan R, et al. *A randomized trial of the effectiveness of an ultrasonic denture hygiene intervention*. [PMC10387143](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10387143)ย
[2] Lim T.W., et al. *Efficacy of ultrasonic home-care denture cleaning versus conventional.* [ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571224003841)ย
[3] Ghazal A.R.A., et al. *Efficacy of removing Candida albicans from orthodontic acrylic.* [BMC Oral Health](https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-019-0765-x)ย
[4] ล imunoviฤ L, et al. *The Influence of Different Cleaning Protocols on the Surface Roughness of Orthodontic Retainers.* [MDPI](https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1319)ย
[5] Khawwam S.I., et al. *Effect of Different Cleaning Regimes on Biofilm Formation on Removable Orthodontic Appliances.* [Wiley Online Library](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2023/9920850)
[2] Lim T.W., et al. *Efficacy of ultrasonic home-care denture cleaning versus conventional.* [ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571224003841)ย
[3] Ghazal A.R.A., et al. *Efficacy of removing Candida albicans from orthodontic acrylic.* [BMC Oral Health](https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-019-0765-x)ย
[4] ล imunoviฤ L, et al. *The Influence of Different Cleaning Protocols on the Surface Roughness of Orthodontic Retainers.* [MDPI](https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1319)ย
[5] Khawwam S.I., et al. *Effect of Different Cleaning Regimes on Biofilm Formation on Removable Orthodontic Appliances.* [Wiley Online Library](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2023/9920850)