Clear retainers
A clear retainer is worn after active treatment to hold teeth in their new position. Teeth naturally drift back (relapse) without retention, so a retainer is what preserves the result.
Also known as Essix retainers, post-treatment retainers.
The descriptions on this page are InvisibleBraces editorial summaries. The research behind them is counted and linked below, each count opening the search that returns it.
At a glance
Updated monthly · checked 11 d agoClear retainers: used or recommended alongside at-home aligners, not the aligner treatment itself. Its research-volume score is ~65/100, from 1,997 indexed papers. Our verdict: Not optional. Retainers are what protect the months and money you spent straightening, so budget for replacements.
Sold as the way to "keep your results" once your aligners are done.
Not optional. Retainers are what protect the months and money you spent straightening, so budget for replacements.
What the evidence says
Our summary of the research, then the counts it rests on. Each count opens the search that returns it.
Retention after orthodontic treatment is well established: without a retainer some relapse is expected, especially in the first year. Most at-home brands include at least one set and sell replacements.
The score is the one figure here we compute ourselves: a logarithmic blend of the three counts above (every indexed paper, the randomized trials, and the systematic reviews), with a trial or a review counting for more than an ordinary paper. It measures how much research exists on the topic, not whether a product works for you. The same method grades every topic on the accessories index.
Source: Europe PMC · as of Nov 2, 2026
What to watch for
Replace worn, cracked, or ill-fitting retainers; a bad retainer can move teeth the wrong way. Rinse and clean them daily to avoid bacteria and odor.
InvisibleBraces editorial guidance, not a clinical instruction. For the professional-body positions on moving teeth without an exam, see what the ADA and AAO say.
Retainer cleaners and cases on Amazon
Made for aligners and retainers and sold on Amazon. What each one is, and anything worth knowing first, is our own summary.
- Invisalign Aligner Cleaning Foam (2 pack)View on Amazon
Made by Invisalign
Invisalign's own cleaning foam for aligners and retainers. A pump or two goes inside the trays before you put them back in, so it works away from a sink, or the trays can sit in it for a few minutes at home.
- Retainer Brite cleaning tablets (96 count)View on Amazon
Made by Retainer Brite
Fizzing tablets you dissolve in a glass of water and soak aligners or a retainer in. Made for removable orthodontic appliances, not for dentures.
- Polident 3 Minute Antibacterial Retainer Cleaner (2 x 90 tablets)View on Amazon
Made by Polident
Antibacterial soaking tablets from the denture-cleaner brand, sold for retainers, aligners and mouthguards, with a three-minute soak.
- Invisalign Aligner and Retainer CaseView on Amazon
Made by Invisalign
Invisalign's own hard case with a magnetic catch, made to hold a set of aligners or a retainer between meals.
Worth knowing: Trays come out at every meal: a case keeps them clean and in one piece, where a napkin gets thrown away with the trays inside.
Links open Amazon.com, the US store, which sets the price and availability. We last checked these products there on Oct 24, 2026. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.