The Link between Dirty Retainers and Poor Sleep

Did you know that not cleaning your retainers properly could be ruining your sleep?

Sleep is an essential biological process that allows the body to reset, rejuvenate and fight infection. The problem is, poor retainer hygiene practices, including ineffective cleaning methods like rinsing or brushing,  disrupt that process.

Harmful bacteria still cling to the surface of dental appliances (such as retainers, aligners, mouth guards and dentures), building a cloudy  ‘biofilm’ on your appliance over time. This bacterial overgrowth increases the risk of oral infections and tooth decay, both of which can disturb your sleep pattern and affect how well your body recovers overnight. 

This blog will explore how improperly cleaned retainers impact your sleep quality and how poor sleep increases your risk of oral diseases, before sharing the dentist-approved solution - recommended for deep cleaning your retainer and getting a peaceful nights sleep. 

How Poor Retainer Hygiene Can Disrupt Your Sleep

Every night, your body relies on sleep to recharge and stay healthy. However, rinsing your retainers, aligners or guards with water fails to remove harmful Streptococcus bacteria. These bacteria form a cloudy biofilm in the crevices of your retainer overnight, causing an imbalance in your mouth’s microbiome by promoting the overgrowth of pathogenic species. This change in your oral environment increases your risk of cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. 

Tooth decay causes orofacial pain and increased sensitivity, while periodontitis (Gum disease) leads to sore and inflamed gums. Both oral health conditions cause discomfort and disturb your sleep, making it harder to get a good night’s sleep. Additionally, bacterial build-up is responsible for making your retainer smell and taste unpleasant, another reason you might find it difficult to settle and relax.

Studies show that oral and sleep health are closely linked - each can negatively affect the other. Sleep deprivation can cause inflammation in the body, weakening immune defenses and creating conditions that allow decay-causing bacteria to thrive. This can increase susceptibility to inflammation-related health issues like gum disease. Lack of sleep can also cause a condition called ‘xerostomia’, or dry mouth, which reduces saliva flow. Since saliva helps protect your gums by neutralizing acids, washing away debris and metabolizing food particles, less saliva means a higher risk of gum disease. 

This is why cleaning your retainer properly and maintaining thorough and effective hygiene practices is essential. It helps protect against oral health issues and discomfort, improves your sleep quality, and keeps your retainer clear, fresh and hygienic by reducing populations of harmful bacteria. 

How to Deep Clean your Retainer using the Dental Pod 

Top dentists recommend the Dental Pod, an ultrasonic cleaning machine, as the ultimate solution in ensuring a hygienically clean appliance, safe for night time. The award-winning Dental Pod uses advanced ultrasonic technology to kill decay-causing bacteria in a process called ‘sonication’, which creates millions of cavitation bubbles at the microscopic level and disrupts bacterial cell function. 

Easy steps to using the Dental Pod: 

1. Fill the tank with cold tap water

2. Place your oral appliance inside

3. Plug it in

4. Tap the button to activate a cleaning cycle whilst you relax and wind down for bed 

The Dental Pod does the work for you, transforming your retainer to look and feel brand new - free from bad smells, taste, and bacteria. It helps promote better oral hygiene and supports restful sleep. 

For around the clock sanitary protection for your oral appliance, experts recommend pairing the Dental Pod with the Zima Go UV-carry case, and save 10%. The Zima Go case comes with integrated UV-A and UV-C sterilizing technology, known for its germicidal capabilities, which means you can store and clean your retainers on the go. Cloudy, unhygienic retainers aren’t just unpleasant - they’re a risk to your oral health and to your sleep quality.

They can harbor dangerous bacteria linked to painful periodontal conditions like gum disease, which can disrupt sleep and impairs the body’s ability to recharge and fight infection. That’s why the award-winning Dental Pod and Zima Go 360Bundle is the perfect duo for sanitary, hygienically fresh retainers that are safe for wearing and supportive of a good night’s sleep.