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FOR RETAINER
QUESTIONS
ASK MAGGIE!
On the day your braces are removed there is one more important step….retention. Your orthodontic retainers have been carefully designed to hold your teeth in their corrected position until they are stable. This retention phase will help maintain a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles.
Wear your retainers as directed – except during sports or while you eat.
You may salivate more when you first get them and your mouth might be sore. This will subside and your speech will return to normal after a few days of wearing your retainers.
Keep your retainers clean. It's very important to remove the plaque and bacteria that causes hardened white calculus to build up over time.
Use a soft bristle toothbrush on the tissue side of the retainer to loosen the invisible bacteria and plaque and rinse thoroughly with cool or warm water. If you use toothpaste find a non-abrasive product.
This is especially important for invisible essix type retainers because the plastic scratches easily.
Occasionally soaking them in denture cleaner is a good idea. There are home sonic cleaning units available that will keep them plaque-free and sparkling clean!
Rinse your mouth and retainer with water if you can’t brush after meals.
Your doctor may recommend retainer cleaning products and have special retainer care instructions for you to follow.
Avoid hot water, sunlight, and soaking them in mouth wash. The plastic may break down or warp.
Be careful not to “click” them in and out with your tongue. This will weaken the wires and may cause them to break.
Call your Doctor if you lose, break or have concerns about the fit.
Make Good Habits!
Retainers are fragile and the safest place for them is in your mouth. When you need to remove your retainers store them in a retainer case. Hard plastic is the safest…and your doctor’s first choice. Soft cases will keep them clean and are much safer than wrapping them in a napkin or just setting them on the table. Choose retainer cases that fit your needs and put them in places where you will use them. Think about where you will be taking out your retainers, to eat, brush your teeth, play sports, eat in a car, etc. Put a retainer case in those locations permanently if possible. Put an attractive container on the dinner table so you will always have a nice place to hide your retainers while you eat. Your friends and family will appreciate your consideration.
Remember to make good habits and you will save time and money on costly repairs and remakes.