Wearing And Caring For Your Retainer Is Worth It

All orthodontic experts are excited to get their patients to a stage where they can start wearing retainers. Your orthodontic care is a significant leap forward in your self-image and the overall health of your mouth.

One of the biggest mistakes people can make after they feel they’ve completed their orthodontics treatment is to stop caring for their retainer. Many neglect to wear it altogether and let their teeth drift back to their previous untreated state.

Don’t let this happen to you! As much as we love you, once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment, we don’t want you coming back for re-treatment. So remember to faithfully wear your retainer and follow these guidelines on how to care for it.

Don’t Neglect the Final Stage

Some people neglect this last stage of their orthodontic treatment. It’s probably because they think that once their braces are off, they’re FINISHED with orthodontics.

Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not done just yet. In fact, maintaining that drop-dead-gorgeous smile may be a lifelong pursuit. Once you get your braces off, you need to remember that your retainer is the final phase of orthodontic treatment, and it’s just as important as every other phase.

Teeth don’t sit in your mouth in stasis—they’re continually moving, though it’s too gradual to see. The muscles in your mouth will continue to move your teeth after your braces come off. This is why you may need to wear your retainer regularly for a while, or even forever, at the advice of your orthodontist.

Cleaning your retainer won’t matter much if you don’t wear it, so that’s the first step: you have to keep wearing it!

If you’ve got that down, here’s what you need to know about proper retainer care:

1. Clean Your Retainer Regularly

Just as you brush your teeth to prevent decay and bad odors, you’ll need to brush your retainer. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste. Some people like to use a tiny bit of mouthwash, or dish detergent. That’s fine—just remember to rinse well.

Remember to clean regularly—every day or so. This will prevent buildup. But did you know that different retainers need to be cleaned differently? Hawley retainers (molded acrylic fastened by a wire) and plastic retainers can be cleaned similarly. Remove it from your mouth and clean it with warm water after each meal. You can also use dish soap and a soft toothbrush for a more complete clean.

If your orthodontist recommends soaking, get the appropriate cleaner (like Polident) and follow their instructions.

Retainers attached to your teeth (called “fixed” or “bonded” retainers) are harder to clean. You need floss and a floss threader (ask your orthodontics expert for one) so that you can floss sideways under the wire. It’s awkward at first but not impossible.

A water pick can also be used to get surface-level gunk off your teeth when you have a bonded retainer.

Cleaning your retainer is necessary for it to function properly, fit right, and not spread bacteria to your gums, which can cause gingivitis. A special note: DON’T put your retainers in the dishwasher or the microwave. That’s just asking for damage and warping, which will force you to get a new one.

2. Good Habits Will Keep You from Losing Your Retainer

Since they’re expensive and time-consuming to replace, you need to keep track of your retainer. The first good rule of thumb is to always carry your retainer case with you so that you can properly store it while eating.

On that note, putting it in your case in the first place is a good habit to get into as well. Never wrap up the retainer in a napkin or tissue, for instance, since you could mistake it for trash and accidentally throw it away.

IF YOU DO lose your retainer, contact us right away. We can make you a new one, before your teeth start misbehavin’.

3. Wear Your Retainer Per Our Instructions

In most cases, after your braces are removed, you should wear your retainer ALL the time (unless we tell you differently). After that, continue to wear your retainer EVERY night.

If you don’t, the tissues in your mouth will continue to move your teeth gradually back to their original position, which can mess with your palette, your self-confidence, and bring you back in for more expensive treatments. Why go through all that work if you’re going to let it go to waste? For us, the goal isn’t just to get you in for treatment – it’s to make sure you never need to come back!

As we mentioned earlier, we care for all our patients. We know that at a certain point, the best thing we can do for them is ensure that their treatment is individualized and can be managed without our help.

The Takeaway

Retainers are a necessary final step for anyone that undergoes orthodontic treatment. Though it’s tempting to be done with your teeth as soon as you’re done with braces, you need to keep track of your new responsibilities with your retainer.

This includes knowing how to clean it, wearing it regularly, and not losing it. Hopefully, this guide will help you do those things. If you’re looking for help with braces in Philadelphia, or any orthodontic care in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, you’ve come to the right place.

However, the real treatment starts with you and your ability to consistently take care (and keep track of) your new retainer. We’re so excited when our awesome patients reach this final phase of treatment, but we also know that it’s a lot of responsibility. We wrote this article to give you some guidelines on how best to maintain the smile you worked so hard to get.

Take good care of your retainer and enjoy your beautiful new smile for life! Contact your orthodontics office for help with continued treatment.

All orthodontic experts are excited to get their patients to a stage where they can start wearing retainers. Your orthodontic care is a significant leap forward in your self-image and the overall health of your mouth.

One of the biggest mistakes people can make after they feel they’ve completed their orthodontics treatment is to stop caring for their retainer. Many neglect to wear it altogether and let their teeth drift back to their previous untreated state.

Don’t let this happen to you! As much as we love you, once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment, we don’t want you coming back for re-treatment. So remember to faithfully wear your retainer and follow these guidelines on how to care for it.

Don’t Neglect the Final Stage

Some people neglect this last stage of their orthodontic treatment. It’s probably because they think that once their braces are off, they’re FINISHED with orthodontics.

Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not done just yet. In fact, maintaining that drop-dead-gorgeous smile may be a lifelong pursuit. Once you get your braces off, you need to remember that your retainer is the final phase of orthodontic treatment, and it’s just as important as every other phase.

Teeth don’t sit in your mouth in stasis—they’re continually moving, though it’s too gradual to see. The muscles in your mouth will continue to move your teeth after your braces come off. This is why you may need to wear your retainer regularly for a while, or even forever, at the advice of your orthodontist.