I've heard similar things about whitening toothpastes being more abrasive. Regular toothpaste is usually fine, especially if you're gentle and don't scrub too hard. But yeah, whitening formulas often have tiny abrasive particles to remove stains, which could definitely scratch softer materials like retainers. Mild soap is always a safe bet, but if regular toothpaste has worked for you this long without issues... I wouldn't stress too much about it. Just keep an eye out for any scratches or cloudiness over time.
I've always been a bit wary of toothpaste hacks, tbh. Whitening toothpaste definitely has abrasive particles—I've seen some retainers get cloudy over time from it. I'd stick with mild soap or denture cleaner tablets just to be safe... better cautious than sorry later, right?
I get your point about being cautious—abrasive toothpaste can definitely cause issues long-term, especially on retainers or aligners. But have you ever tried regular, non-whitening toothpaste? I've been using just a tiny bit of regular Colgate on my retainer for months now, and it hasn't clouded or scratched at all. Actually, I find it leaves a fresher feel compared to mild soap (which always left a weird taste for me, no matter how much I rinsed).
Also, denture tablets are good, but sometimes they seem a bit overkill for daily use... like they're meant more for deep cleaning rather than everyday maintenance. Do you think daily soaking might actually wear down the plastic faster over time? I haven't noticed anything myself yet, but it's something I've wondered about.
Anyway, from personal experience, I think the key is moderation and picking the right kind of toothpaste. Maybe whitening pastes are the real culprit here rather than toothpaste in general? Curious if anyone else has had similar experiences with regular toothpaste vs whitening versions causing different effects...
I've actually had the opposite experience with denture tablets—I used them daily for a while, and my aligners stayed crystal clear without any noticeable wear. Toothpaste, even the regular kind, always seemed to leave a slight film for me. Maybe it depends on the brand or even the aligner material itself? Either way, interesting how differently these things can work out for each person...
That's interesting, I've heard similar things from others about toothpaste leaving a film. It might indeed depend on the aligner material or even the specific toothpaste ingredients—some have abrasives or additives that could react differently. Personally, I've found gentle liquid soap works surprisingly well for aligners without any residue. Have you noticed if certain toothpaste ingredients (like whitening agents or baking soda) make the film worse? Curious if there's a common factor there...
