Retainers
How long should you wear your retainers? That depends upon how long you want your teeth to remain straight. If you do not wear your retainers there is at least an 85% chance of relapse and crooked teeth. You must wear your retainers often enough to keep them fitting. This varies from person to person and changes depending on the time out of braces. Some people need to wear their retainers nightly; others might need to wear their retainers once or twice a week. Do your part and wear your retainers consistently as instructed so that you don't need to wear braces again!
- Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
- Take your retainers out when eating ... and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
- When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately.
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainer replacement is expensive ... with proper care they will last for years!
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.