Have you ever tried those little denture cleaning tablets for trays? My kid’s dentist actually suggested them when we first got the whitening trays, and I’ve stuck with it since. They seem gentler than baking soda, and I haven’t noticed any cloudiness or weird texture changes. I do wonder if the cloudy look is just cosmetic, though—does it actually affect how well the trays fit or work? I’d be a little nervous about roughing up the surface too much, especially since my daughter’s pretty sensitive to new textures in her mouth...
We’ve been using those denture tabs for my son’s trays too. His orthodontist mentioned them as an option, and honestly, they’re just way easier than messing with baking soda or vinegar. I get what you mean about the cloudy look—ours have gotten a bit hazy over time, but the fit hasn’t changed at all. I think it’s more of a cosmetic thing than anything functional.
My kid is really picky about texture too, so I’m careful not to scrub the trays with anything rough. Once I tried using a regular toothbrush and it left tiny scratches, which made the trays look worse and seemed to bother him more. Since then, it’s just the tablets and a quick rinse. Haven’t noticed any smell or weird buildup either.
If your daughter’s sensitive, I’d stick with the gentler route. The tablets are cheap and do the job without messing up the plastic. Just don’t use hot water—learned that one the hard way when a tray warped...
Funny you mention the hot water thing—I did the same with my daughter’s first set and they came out all wobbly. Lesson learned. She’s also super sensitive to textures, so I totally get not wanting to use anything too abrasive. Those little scratches from toothbrushes are weirdly noticeable, right? We switched to just letting the tabs do their thing and it’s been so much less drama. The trays look a bit cloudy but honestly, as long as they work and don’t smell funky, I’m not stressing about it.
The trays look a bit cloudy but honestly, as long as they work and don’t smell funky, I’m not stressing about it.
I wish I could be that chill about it. Every time my trays start looking cloudy, I get nervous that I’m not cleaning them right or that they’re going to get gross. I tried using a toothbrush once and totally agree—the scratches bugged me way more than I expected. Even the tiniest ones just feel weird in my mouth.
Did you ever have issues with the tabs not fully dissolving? I tried those, but sometimes there’s this weird aftertaste, so now I’m paranoid about residue. Also, how do you know if the trays are actually clean enough? I keep worrying about bacteria, especially since I have to wear mine for hours.
I guess I just overthink it, but the idea of putting something back in my mouth that might not be totally clean freaks me out. Maybe I need to relax a bit, but it’s hard when you’re already dealing with all the orthodontic stuff...
I totally get what you mean about the cloudy trays—it makes me uneasy too. I tried using a toothbrush once, but the scratches drove me nuts and made me even more paranoid about bacteria hiding in them. Those cleaning tabs are hit or miss for me, honestly. Sometimes they don’t dissolve all the way and I’m left wondering if there’s still residue. I usually end up rinsing my trays forever just to be sure. It’s hard not to overthink when you’re wearing them for hours... I wish I could just shrug it off, but I’m always second-guessing if they’re actually clean enough.
