lower hawley retainer - plaque build-up - yeuchhhh!!!!

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beanstix
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:46 pm
Location: UK

lower hawley retainer - plaque build-up - yeuchhhh!!!!

#1 Post by beanstix »

Hello All

I've just noticed that my lower Hawley retainer has some hardened plaque welded on to it - ewwwwww!

Can't afford to visit my rip-off ortho to get it removed.

Have read on the net re: soaking it in white spirit vinegar and removing the plaque with a tooth pick. Soaked it in vinegar for a few hours - so far none of it is budging - it's like cement.

I've got Retainer Bright - use that often, but that doesn't remove the plaque, only the whiff, allegedly.

Any suggestions / advice appreciated.

Cheers.

[By the way, I'm in the UK, so can't get any stuff from Walmart.]

Beanstix
Lower incisor extraction & metal lower: 31.03.05
Ceramic upper: 27.05.05
Treatment time: 18 months

bbsadmin
Posts: 3472
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:03 pm
Location: Northern California
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#2 Post by bbsadmin »

SonicBrite might be able to get the buildup off after a few cleanings. It's very strong. We sell it at DentaKit.com: www.dentakit.com/sonicbrite.html
Last edited by bbsadmin on Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!

beanstix
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:46 pm
Location: UK

#3 Post by beanstix »

Hi there

Thanks for the suggestion of SonicBrite - will give that a try.

SonicBrite manufactuerer says:

Finally there is a product that disinfects your dentures while completely removing stains, and calculus build-up. Dentures, retainers, partials, and mouth guards are made of porous materials. The inner-spaces of this material contaminates over time. These micro organisms and bacteria not only lead to dental diseases, but to systemic diseases such as yeast infections, bacterial endocarditis, upper respiratory tract infections, wound infections, meningitis and gastrointestinal infections.


Sounds rather drastic - Systemic diseases? Upper respiratory tract infections?

Is that true - or scaremongering into buying their product?

Isn't the mouth riddled with bacteria anyway ...

Beanstix
Lower incisor extraction & metal lower: 31.03.05
Ceramic upper: 27.05.05
Treatment time: 18 months

beanstix
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:46 pm
Location: UK

#4 Post by beanstix »

I'm going to try this too ...

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Clean-Wh ... a-Retainer

Distilled white vinegar (+ baking soda) solution x 2 weekly.

Hopefully a cheapo alternative in these cash strapped recessionary times.


Beanstix
Lower incisor extraction & metal lower: 31.03.05
Ceramic upper: 27.05.05
Treatment time: 18 months

bbsadmin
Posts: 3472
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:03 pm
Location: Northern California
Contact:

#5 Post by bbsadmin »

They just mean, in a nutshell, that putting a device filled with extra bacteria into your mouth day after day could result in some nasty outcomes in your body. Most people don't think that dental disease or tooth/gum problems affect the rest of the body, but recent studies have shown that the bacteria from periodontal disease, for example, can cause heart health problems.

beanstix wrote:Hi there

Thanks for the suggestion of SonicBrite - will give that a try.

SonicBrite manufactuerer says:

Finally there is a product that disinfects your dentures while completely removing stains, and calculus build-up. Dentures, retainers, partials, and mouth guards are made of porous materials. The inner-spaces of this material contaminates over time. These micro organisms and bacteria not only lead to dental diseases, but to systemic diseases such as yeast infections, bacterial endocarditis, upper respiratory tract infections, wound infections, meningitis and gastrointestinal infections.


Sounds rather drastic - Systemic diseases? Upper respiratory tract infections?

Is that true - or scaremongering into buying their product?

Isn't the mouth riddled with bacteria anyway ...

Beanstix
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!

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