Retainer BriteTablets for Cleaner Retainers and Dental Appliances - 96 Count[Amazon-developed Certification] Compact by Design

I recently started clear aligner orthodontics and didn't get much direction from my orthodontist. His advice was to rinse them under cold water. Sooooooo, if you're going to have an appliance in your mouth for up to three weeks (the timeline of my aligner wear per tray) that doesn't sound very hygienic to me. You're not supposed to brush your aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste because that can lead to a hazy look on the aligner AND create tiny little abrasions where bacteria can grow. That means at best you'll have bad breath, at worst, cavities! Thanks to the internet I heard about Retainer Brite (you can't use denture tablets with aligners/retainers/bite guards, by the way...I discovered that when I was thinking that would be a viable solution, dangit!) After reading about this product on a couple of orthodontist's websites I looked for it, or something like it, at Target, but no luck. Thank goodness for Amazon, because I wanted something to keep my aligners clean and I wanted it fast! I use these probably more than necessary, but they have kept my aligners SPARKLING clean! I use one tablet twice per day (I use cold water as opposed to the recommended warm water, so that it doesn't warp my aligners) and I am beyond pleased with the results. It's super easy and takes very little time. As soon as I remove my aligners before a meal I pop them into a glass with the tablet, add just enough water to cover them and when I come back after breakfast or dinner...VOILA! I am greeted with FRESH TO DEATH aligners! As a side note, when my orthodontist handed me my first three trays at the beginning of my treatment he said: "They'll only look this clear for the first couple of days. After that they'll be more visible." Meaning, because they would become discolored/hazy and they would be more noticeable by other people. Well, thanks to using the Retainer Brite my trays look almost as clear as when they were brand new! Retainer Brite ALSO allowed me to eat/drink a few things I never would have risked otherwise. Because you're not supposed to have the trays out more than 2-4 hours per day (and my goal is 2 hours max) it's hard to eat enough not to be starving and I also didn't want to waste time with them out on non-clear beverages. Now, I can treat myself to some jello (easy to eat with them in), or a few bites of mashed potatoes or iced tea (which I was really missing!), etc....as long as shortly after I pop the in the Retainer Brite and brush my teeth. That way the only time out for the trays is the time spent brushing my teeth, as opposed to having a snack AND brushing my teeth. I realize this is still probably not ideal, but it has helped me TREMENDOUSLY, because I was having a hard time getting enough to eat each day and still hit my two hour goal. I'm going to add a photo with my first set (used for three weeks and cleaned daily with Retainer Brite) and one of my unused (BRAND NEW!) trays to show just how clear they have remained. For reference, I will put the used tray on top and the unused tray on the bottom. BOTTOM LINE: The results speak for themselves. Retainer Brite was a godsend for me! HIGHLY recommend! Worth every penny!

Hello everyone!I recently had my braces removed and was given a 2 piece Hawley retainer. My Orthodontist suggested I clean it using a toothbrush and toothpaste, and twice a week to use denture cleaner. I really didn't like the idea of using denture cleaner and using a toothbrush and toothpaste was a huge hassle because you have to get a good grip on the retainer while trying to brush it well, which can be difficult, especially once it's all wet and full of toothpaste suds.I decided to look into other options and came across Retainer Brite. I was hoping I'd find a product made specifically for retainers and I did! I did some research to see what the main difference between Retainer Brite and Denture cleaners were and what I found was that Retainer Brite is made by the same parent company who creates Essix retainers (clear retainers) - their whole goal was to create a cleaner for retainers that was perfectly PH balanced to ensure no yellowing of the appliance and no damage long term. Of course, yellowing only applies to clear retainers, but still - I much prefer to use a product created specifically for retainers rather than dentures as they are two different beasts.One thing I did learn though is that if your retainer has any point where the metal is soldered, you cannot use Retainer Brite or denture cleaners. The chemicals will cause the solder to weaken and break down over time, resulting in a defunct retainer. You'll know if your metal retainer has a solder point by looking for places where two different wires join together and a blob of metal is connecting them. This blob of metal is where they heat up the metal to cause the two wires to merge together. If you have a spot like this do not purchase Retainer Brite or denture cleaners and look into other home-product options.Unfortunately, my bottom retainer does have a solder and I noticed that it started blackening from Retainer Brite, so I use a toothbrush to clean this piece and I place it in a cup of warm water when I'm not wearing it so that I can rinse it off easier by not allowing any debris to "cake on" to it.Regardless, I still love using Retainer Brite for my top retainer and will continue to purchase it for that purpose. As mentioned in my title, it's easy to use - you simply grab a warm glass of water, drop the tablet in and then your retainer. It starts out as the color blue and after 15-20 minutes it turns clear. At this point, I drain the cup, with my retainer still in it, and I fill the cup with more water, drain, and continue swishing around the water in the cup until the retainer and cup are clean from the Retainer Brite residue. I do this so that I don't have to stick my fingers in the Retainer Brite chemicals. I then rinse my retainer off one final time with my hands and then pop it on my teeth. There is zero residue and zero smell. It's awesome.Highly recommend this product!