Retainer Care

Retention is an essential part of your orthodontic treatment to ensure that your teeth don't shift back to the position they were in before your braces. The retainer is customized for you and fits over your teeth, similar to a mouthguard, and keeps your teeth in their new, straight position. You will need to wear your retainer for a specific amount each day for a minimum of 24 months. Since you will wear your retainer for quite some time, it is important that you take good care of it. Dr. Carl Dann from Dr. Dann Orthodontics provides this overview of how to take care of your retainer.   

Brush Your Retainer Regularly

You should clean your retainer every time you brush your teeth with your toothbrush to keep it clean. You can also purchase a retainer cleaning solution to soak your retainer in for about five to ten minutes or according to the package instructions. 

Brush Your Teeth 

Before and after wearing your retainer, brush your teeth to ensure you do not create a breeding ground for bacteria to collect on your retainer. If you are wearing a removable retainer, you should remove it before eating. 

Take Care When Putting Your Retainer In and Taking It Out

When putting your retainer in, make sure there are no gaps between your teeth and the retainer, and that it sits flush with the roof of your mouth. When you remove it, do not twist it or pull it out on one side. To prevent damaging your retainer, you should loosen it in several places and then gently ease it off your teeth. And, when you are not wearing it, you should keep it in its storage container.

If your retainer does not seem to fit correctly or is deteriorating, contact your orthodontist right away to get a replacement. 

Retainer Care Don'ts

Caring for your retainer is pretty straightforward, but there are some things you shouldn't do to keep it from getting damaged or lost. Don't:

• Leave your retainer in a hot space, such as a car or near a heat source, because it can melt or warp.
• Put your retainer in boiling water, even though that may seem like a good way to clean it.
• Leave your retainer in a place where Fido or Fluffy can get to it. Pets are known to chew retainers.
• Put your retainer in a napkin when you are eating out, because it may get thrown in the trash. You should always put it in the storage container.

Make an Appointment with Dr. Dann Orthodontics Today!

If you have any more questions about how to care for your retainer or you'd like to schedule an appointment, contact us. We are happy to help you in any way we can. If you are looking for a leading orthodontist, Dr. Dann Orthodontics is the place for your orthodontic treatment. We love to help our patients develop beautiful smiles!