No matter if you wear braces or are in retainers, they both collect food and plaque. So, every time you eat or snack, you need to brush your teeth and brush your retainer. Once a week you should also soak it in a glass of room-temperature water with a retainer-cleaning tablet such as Retainer Brite. This will help remove any excess plaque that could not be removed in brushing. It also prevents any oral infections and keeps the appliance tasting better. Do NOT use hot water in the soaking process as it can distort the appliance.