Reddit reviews The Doctor's BrushPicks Interdental Toothpicks | 120-Picks per pack | (6-Pack)

Have you tried the plastic toothpicks with the little brush at the end?

edit: Thanks for the downvote, but I'm not talking about toothbrushes. Even I'm not that much of a sarcastic douche.

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-BrushPicks-120-Each-Pack/dp/B004GF2HY2/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_bs_tr_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=Z3CT648C7YN4X77XJQ9E&th=1

I also brush the trays any time I eat. Soft bristle brush, no toothpaste, water only.

 
When I'm at work or out:

the trays get thorough rinse, a cursory brush "inside" under running water and a quick check over for any obvious "build up". Then I put the trays back in to brush briefly over the outside (it's far easier when they're on your teeth).

 
When I'm at home (and at least once a day, in the evening):

I soak the trays in a mild solution of white vinegar while I'm eating, as a mild disinfectant/cleaner. Some people suggest a 50:50 mix but honestly mine is more like only 25:75 vinegar:water. If I remember, I'll switch them into plain water after 15-20 minutes -- though I frequently forget and I've left them in the solution for 60+ minutes without issue.

Before I put them back on I brush them thoroughly. I have a bunch of attachments (22, I think) so have to pay particular attention to getting the bristles into those gaps and checking the trays closely for any build-up. I have a soft brush head attachment for my electric toothbrush, and tend to use this at least once a day (without too much physical pressure and not for too long) to make it easier/more thorough to get into the attachment indentations -- I haven't seen any adverse effects from using the electric brush, since the trays already spend all day getting knocked around/ground together by my teeth.

 

Other than the mild vinegar soak each day I don't use any other chemicals, toothpaste, mouthwash, rinses, or commercial cleaners on the trays. I think you run the risk of staining or turning them cloudy if you use anything too "harsh" (acidic/basic) too regularly.

Other than cleaning the trays directly, the main "tricks" seem to be simply:

a) avoid drinks that may stain or discolor -- coffee, tea, red wine, etc. ... anything sugary or acid are a bad idea for both the trays and your teeth. Honestly, just stick to water most of the time until the trays are out.

b) make sure you clean your teeth thoroughly before putting the trays back in. Anything you fail to clean off or out from between your teeth is going to be stuck fast between your teeth and the trays for the next 5-8 hours when you remove them again, which bad for both. I try to floss and brush (at least briefly) after each meal now. If you don't see yourself flossing outside the comfort of your own bathroom, at least pick up some dental picks so you can surreptitiously get between the teeth to some degree before brushing. (These are the ones I prefer.) Yes, it's a bit of a pain in the ass but a good habit to get into.

 

FWIW, no, there's no residual vinegar taste/smell at all after you rinse and brush with clean water, and white vinegar is dead cheap compared to mouthwashes or any commercial retainer cleaners.

These saved me a lot of time and I could get under the brackets easy: https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-BrushPicks-Interdental-Toothpicks-120-Picks/dp/B004GF2HY2/ref=pd_aw_lpo_194_tr_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7TQ5316Q574086RHS88E