Has anyone actually ruined their trays with peroxide, or is it one of those ortho horror stories meant to keep us in line? Because if there’s a cheaper, faster way to get rid of spaghetti stains, I’m all ears.
I totally get the temptation to try anything that works (and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg), but I honestly get nervous every time someone mentions peroxide. I’ve seen a couple of patients come in with trays that looked like they’d been left out in the sun too long—kind of warped and cloudy—and both swore they were just using “a splash” of peroxide. Maybe it was coincidence or maybe they got a little heavy-handed, but it’s enough to make me extra cautious.
I’m with you on the dish soap thing though. I swear, no matter how much I scrub, mine always end up smelling vaguely like last night’s dinner mixed with plastic. My trick lately is to use a soft toothbrush and unscented soap—just gentle circles, nothing crazy. It doesn’t totally fix the smell issue, but at least I feel like I’m not risking weird chemical reactions.
The denture tablets are such a racket. They work, don’t get me wrong, but who has the budget for that every week? One of my patients told me she just soaks her trays in mouthwash once in a while (the alcohol-free kind), and it seems to help with the smell without causing any visible damage. I tried it myself and didn’t notice any problems, but then again, I’m always worried about what’s happening microscopically.
Coffee stains are my nemesis too. Tried the straw thing for about two days before giving up—felt ridiculous and still ended up with stains somehow. Honestly, sometimes I think aligners are just destined to look a little “lived-in” if you’re eating real food and drinking anything besides water.
If anyone’s actually managed to melt their trays or turn them into weird science experiments with peroxide, I’d love to know too. Until then, I’ll keep babying mine like they’re made of spun sugar... even if it means living with faint coffee ghosts forever.
