Decades prior, patients were instructed to wear their retainers for a year or two following their orthodontic treatment. However, extensive research has shown that a lifetime commitment is ideal for optimal results. After all, your braces can guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, but they need a little support to stay there. To help keep yours in pristine condition, read on to learn a few important dos and don’ts.
DO Take Your Retainer Out Before You Eat
Eating with your retainer may seem convenient, but it can seriously damage the structure. Furthermore, food particles can get lodged between the appliance and your teeth, increasing your chances of developing a serious dental problem, like decay or gum disease. Therefore, it’s worth taking the few extra minutes to take them out, rinse them off, and store them safely before enjoying your meal.
DON’T Rinse Your Retainer with Hot Water
Rinsing your retainer is an essential step in keeping them free of debris. Just make sure not to use hot water since this can warp their shape, rendering them practically useless. To preserve them, only use cold or lukewarm water.
DO Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Oftentimes, patients think cleaning their retainer thoroughly requires harsh chemicals, like bleach or mouthwash. In reality, all you need is a denture tablet, mild vinegar, or some water! If you are ever unsure of what to soak your retainer in, don’t hesitate to ask your orthodontist.
DON’T Wrap Your Retainer in a Napkin
Another common mistake patients make is wrapping their retainer in a napkin when it isn’t being used. This might seem like a good idea, but it’s one of the most frequent reasons it gets thrown away or misplaced entirely. Instead, rinse it off and place it in its designated storage case whenever it’s not in use.
DO Wear Your Retainer Often
As mentioned above, your retainers play an essential role in preventing orthodontic relapse. So, make sure to wear them as much as possible! For the first 6-12 months, consider wearing them for 20-22 hours a day. After that, you can transition to wearing them nightly.
DON’T Attempt to Repair Your Retainer on Your Own
If your retainer gets chipped or breaks into several pieces, don’t try to remedy the situation on your own with a household item like superglue. While it’s a powerful adhesive, the toxins it’s comprised of are not safe to ingest. For this reason, it’s important to notify your orthodontist so it can be professionally repaired or replaced.
With these dos and don’ts in mind, you can keep your retainers in good condition for several years. Even better, you’ll have a reliable, effective orthodontic appliance in place to keep your teeth nice and straight!
About the Practice
Our team at Simply Orthodontics is proud to offer 100% personalized braces and retainers! As a result, we can help patients with all kinds of orthodontic issues – from slight gaps to severe overcrowding – achieve beautifully straight teeth and help them preserve the results. If you want to learn more about how to keep your retainers in good shape or would like to schedule an appointment with our team to start orthodontic treatment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 281-5188.