Retainer & Aligner Care Blog

Dentures soaking in Blakmint liquid cleaner, then brushed, as part of a routine for removing denture stains
How to Whiten Dentures: Safe Stain Removal That Won't Damage Them
Wondering how to whiten dentures? What NHS, Oral Health Foundation and Mayo Clinic guidance says about removing denture stains safely, what causes them, and what to avoid. Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner beside a retainer, dentures, a night guard and a mouthguard
Can You Clean a Retainer With Mouthwash? What the Sources Say
Quick answer: Occasionally, yes, if the mouthwash is alcohol-free and your orthodontist's instructions don't say otherwise. Healthline warns alcohol can harm a retainer's plastic, WebMD suggests nonalcoholic mouthwash for soaking,... Read more...
Denture wearer holding his dentures and a bottle of Blakmint liquid cleaner, a Polident alternative
Polident Alternative: What to Know Before You Switch to a Liquid Cleaner
Looking for a Polident alternative? Here's what Polident's own published pages say about how it's used and what's in it, and where a persulfate free, reusable liquid cleaner fits in. Read more...
Dentures soaking in Blakmint liquid cleaner, then brushed: how to clean dentures without tablets
How to Clean Dentures Without Tablets: A Simple Daily Routine
How to clean dentures without tablets: the daily brush-and-soak routine from NHS, Oral Health Foundation and Mayo Clinic guidance, what to soak them in instead, and what never to use. Read more...
Denture wearer holding his dentures and a bottle of Blakmint liquid cleaner, an alternative to denture tablets
Denture Tablets: What's in Them, How to Use Them, and the Liquid Alternative
A practical guide to denture tablets: what's in them (straight from the label), how to use them properly, what they do well, and a persulfate free liquid alternative. Read more...
Blakmint retainer brush
Orthodontic Toothbrush: What to Use for Braces, Retainers and Aligners
Quick answer: An orthodontic toothbrush is a small, soft brush made for the awkward spots on braces and removable appliances. For fixed braces, NHS patient guidance says to pair your... Read more...
Blakmint liquid retainer cleaner bottle held in a hand
Vivera Retainer Care: How to Clean and Look After Yours
How to clean and look after Vivera retainers: what to do daily, what to avoid (hot water, toothpaste), and how long they may last. Read more...
Smiling woman holding her dentures and a bottle of Blakmint liquid cleaner in a bright bathroom
Denture Sore Spots: Why They Keep Coming Back
Denture sore spots usually come down to five things: fit, bone changes, gum changes, hygiene, or a fungal infection called denture stomatitis. Only one of those is a cleaning problem. Read more...
Dentures soaking in Blakmint liquid with full contact, compared with fizzing tablet bubbles
False Teeth Cleaner: Manual, Ultrasonic or Liquid? Which Actually Works
Manual brush, ultrasonic machine, or liquid soak: a plain comparison of what each false teeth cleaner method actually does, what it costs, and where each one falls short. Read more...
Fiddly foil sachets of denture tablets beside a bottle of Blakmint liquid cleaner with dentures soaking
Steradent Alternative: What to Know Before You Switch
Thinking about a Steradent alternative? Here's what dental sources actually say about Steradent's own limits (overnight soaking, soft denture materials) and where a liquid cleaner fits in. Read more...
Smiling woman holding her dentures beside a bottle of Blakmint liquid cleaner
Partial Dentures: The Cleaning Routine That's Different From Full Dentures
Partial dentures have metal clasps that full dentures don't, which changes the cleaning routine, the drop-risk, and what's actually safe to soak them in. Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner bottle in a bathroom setting
How to Clean Invisalign Aligners (And What Actually Damages Them)
How to clean Invisalign and other clear aligners properly: what actually clouds and scratches the plastic, and a persulfate free liquid cleaner that works alongside your aligner care routine. Read more...
Blakmint liquid retainer cleaner bottle
How to Clean Retainers (Wire and Clear, Properly)
How to clean retainers properly: the daily routine, why wire Hawley retainers and clear plastic retainers actually need different care, and the one popular home remedy that can corrode metal... Read more...
Award winning denture care: Blakmint liquid cleaner
Best Denture Cleaner UK: What to Actually Look For (Not Just What's #1 on a Listicle)
Best denture cleaner UK: what independent reviewers actually test for (odour control, plaque removal, material safety), and where tablets and liquid genuinely differ once you look past the ranking. Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner, reusable across 6-day batches
Mouthguard Cleaner for Athletes: What the Research Says About Team Sports Hygiene
A Tufts survey found 55.7% of athletes never clean their mouthguard. A separate study found both boil-and-bite and custom guards pick up bacteria, yeast and mould fast, and that daily... Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner for a night guard
Night Guard Cleaner: Why a Grind Guard Gets Dirtier Than You'd Think
Night guards and grind guards sit in your mouth for 7 to 8 hours of reduced saliva flow, different conditions to a daytime retainer, and they need a cleaning routine... Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner used in an ultrasonic cleaning bath
Ultrasonic Retainer Cleaners vs Liquid: Do You Need Both?
Ultrasonic retainer cleaners vs liquid solution: what the machine actually does, what it doesn't, and why the liquid you put in it matters more than the gadget itself. Read more...
Mouthguard beside a glass of Blakmint liquid cleaner
How to Clean a Mouthguard (or Gum Shield) Properly
How to clean a mouthguard or gum shield properly: the daily routine, why it smells the way it does, and what stops working the longer you ignore it. Read more...
Denture wearer cleaning a denture with Blakmint liquid cleaner
How to Clean Dentures Properly (Without Wrecking Them)
How to clean dentures properly: the daily routine, what actually damages them (hint: it's probably in your bathroom cabinet right now), and when a smell or stain means something a... Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner bottle beside a retainer
Retainer Cleaner Tablets vs Liquid: What the Studies Actually Found
Retainer cleaner tablets vs liquid, compared on cost, persulfate allergy warnings straight from the manufacturer's own instructions, and what small clinical studies on retainers and aligners actually found. Read more...
Blakmint liquid cleaner loosening tartar on a denture
Denture Cleaning Tablets vs Liquid: What the Research Actually Says
Denture cleaning tablets vs liquid solution, compared on cost, mess, allergens and what the Cochrane review actually says. No marketing claims, just the numbers and the sources. Read more...
Do Aligner Chewies Actually Work? What We Know (and What We Don't)
Do Aligner Chewies Actually Work? What We Know (and What We Don't)
Aligner chewies are small, soft cylinders you bite on to press your aligners fully onto your teeth. Many orthodontists recommend them. But how strong is the evidence? Honestly, it's thin... Read more...
How Long Do You Really Need to Wear Your Retainer? What the Research Says
How Long Do You Really Need to Wear Your Retainer? What the Research Says
Finishing your aligners or braces feels like the finish line. Research suggests it's really the start of a second phase. Without a retainer, teeth tend to drift back towards where... Read more...
How Should You Clean Your Aligners and Retainers? What the Studies Actually Show
How Should You Clean Your Aligners and Retainers? What the Studies Actually Show
There's no official, agreed cleaning protocol for clear aligners and retainers. But a handful of clinical studies have compared common methods head to head, and they point the same way:... Read more...
Blakmint Celebrates Prestigious Award Win: A Milestone for Better Aligner & Retainer Care
Blakmint Celebrates Prestigious Award Win: A Milestone for Better Aligner & Retainer Care
Blakmint has been named Consumer Products StartUp of the Year at the prestigious UK StartUp Awards. For us, this is far more than a trophy. It's recognition of the passion,... Read more...
Orthodontic Treatment Only Works If You Wear Your Aligners (and Retainers!)
Orthodontic Treatment Only Works If You Wear Your Aligners (and Retainers!)
Orthodontic treatment only works if you follow your clinician’s instructions.Skipping hours, forgetting to wear them or not using retainers after your treatment can slow progress, affect results and even allow... Read more...
Dirty Aligners & Retainers: Bad Breath & Gum Disease Risks
Dirty Aligners & Retainers: Bad Breath & Gum Disease Risks
Dirty Aligners & Retainers and bad breath: The Hidden Hygiene Risks You Might Not Know AboutClear aligners and retainers have transformed the way we straighten and maintain our smiles. They’re... Read more...
Best Retainer, Denture, Mouth Guard & Clip In Veneer Cleaner: Why Liquid Beats Tablets
Best Retainer, Denture, Mouth Guard & Clip In Veneer Cleaner: Why Liquid Beats Tablets
Discover a reusable liquid cleaner for dentures, retainers, mouth guards, grind guards and clip in veneers. Helps loosen tartar, reusable for up to 6 days, persulfate free, with less waste than daily... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to Clear Aligner Treatment: Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign and Clear Aligners
The Ultimate Guide to Clear Aligner Treatment: Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign and Clear Aligners
Clear aligners, like Invisalign, have revolutionised orthodontic treatment, offering a discreet and convenient alternative to traditional metal braces. Whether you're considering Invisalign or any other brand of clear aligners, this... Read more...
Things to Consider When Getting Aligner Treatment
Things to Consider When Getting Aligner Treatment
Clear aligners like Invisalign offer a discreet way to straighten teeth, but there are important factors to consider before starting treatment. Here’s a condensed guide to help you decide if... Read more...