"Mom I dropped my retainer in the toilet!"

[Luv Bunnies]

..."You didn't flush it, did you?"

"No."

"Well, you need to get it out."

"I did."

"OK, put it in a cup and we'll drop in a cleaning tablet."

"Did I mention that I used the toilet right before I dropped it but I hadn't flushed yet?"

"Go wash your hands with lots of soap."

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

Luckily, the rest of the day went better.

 

[mom2maggie]

Oh nooooooooooooo.....

 

[mickeyplanner08]

How many cleaning tablets do you have????

I'm thinking one wouldn't do it for me...

 

[dansamy]

Can you use bleach on a retainer?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Can you use bleach on a retainer?

I don't think we'll go so far as using bleach! We keep denture cleaning tablets in the house since my DH and 2 boys all wear retainers. The box says it "kills millions of bacteria." It's been soaking all day and we'll give it a good brushing before he wears it tonight. Replacement retainers are $200 from our orthodontist so heck if we're going to toss it out because of a quick swim in the toilet!!!

 

[momrek06]

..."You didn't flush it, did you?"

"No."

"Well, you need to get it out."

"I did."

"OK, put it in a cup and we'll drop in a cleaning tablet."

"Did I mention that I used the toilet right before I dropped it but I hadn't flushed yet?"

"Go wash your hands with lots of soap."

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

Luckily, the rest of the day went better.

Well look at it this way....no need to call a plumber ($$$$) and no need to replace a retainer
($$$$)!!! Only thing you need is allot of soap and you are all set!!!! Now have a good weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HannaBelle]

Do you think you could boil it?

 

[minniecarousel]

Do you think you could boil it?

nooooo!!

eh, it'll be fine. For that kind of $$, soaking it will do it.

 

[dansamy]

Do you think you could boil it?

I would think that would damage the little rubber/plastic part.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Only $200 for a new one? No doubt about it - if it has been in the toilet - it is NOT going in my mouth.

Gross

 

[PatsGirl]

I don't see the big deal here, soak it and pop it back in And for those that find it so gross, stop eating in restaurants and certainly do not eat any of those mints at the hostess station It takes a lot more than that to give me the skeevy jeevies...

 

[DVCMikey]

That never happened to me, but it has brough back memories that I hated my retainer. I rememeber if you forgot to put it in for a night, the next day it would hurt bad.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, its better than, "Mom, a wave knocked me over and my retainer flew out of my mouth!" That was two weeks after getting it.

Here is what one site suggests:

Disinfecting Your Retainer

If your retainer finds itself in a germy predicament, the first goal is to sanitize it thoroughly to kill any bacteria and germs. It’s generally not safe to boil a retainer because it can lose its shape. Here are some other alternatives to try.
What You Will Need:

* Alcohol (concentrated, not the diluted type)
* Listerine (optional)
* Small bowls
* Old toothbrush
* Mild dish detergent

The Cleaning Process:

1. Fill the small bowl with enough warm water to cover the retainer.
2. Add a small amount of mild dish detergent (antibacterial detergent might be good) and mix until suds begin to form.
3. Place the retainer in the water and scrub away any dirt or grime using the toothbrush.
4. Rinse with clean water.
5. Place the retainer in the second bowl and cover with alcohol. If you don’t have alcohol available, Listerine is also a germ killing mouthwash that could be used.
6. Let the retainer soak for 15-30 minutes. Do not leave the retainer soak for too long or the alcohol could start to break down the plastic.
7. Remove and rinse thoroughly under running water. Be sure to remove any alcohol that may be on the surfaces.
8. Clean following the instructions for regular cleanings to ensure all alcohol is removed along with any peculiar tastes.
9. If you are worried that you may damage you retainer, another option is to take it to your orthodontist and they can sanitize if for you.

 

[Nette]

They should make retainers dishwasher safe. Seriously, if washing baby bottles in the dishwasher counts as sanitizing them, then I figure anything washed in there should come out shiny and germ free.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I dropped mine (and flushed it) when I was a teenager.

No amount of cleaning that thing would make me keep it. I would replace it.

 

[luvmy3]

Not to state the obvious but if the lid was closed and the toilet was flushed with the foot, it probably wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry, because of the rash of toilet habit theads I just couldn't resist


How about diluted bleach, or alcohol, or good old fashioned boiling?

 

[sparkyboy]

brings back memories of when DD left hers on the lunch tray and went into the garbage.

 

[agnes!]

Last year at my DD's birthday dinner at a restaurant, one of the guests left her retainer on the table. Those angelic restaurant people actually looked for it in the bagged trash, luckily it was sitting up on top when they opened it. (I'm sure the family budget was grateful not to take the hit to replace the thing.)

agnes!

 

[clovergirl5]

As the last retainer thread last week mentioned...hydrogen peroxide or any of the ones pp listed in their copy and paste.

dd13 just got braces a couple months ago, Im sure I am in for these kind of "accidents" in the future!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Well, we soaked it all day in denture cleaner. Then I scrubbed it with a toothbrush and toothpaste and rinsed it under hot water. He wore it all night and this morning he's still alive and feeling fine! He's also learned not to take out his retainer until after he's flushed and closed the lid!