Maintaining Your Smile With a Retainer
Once you finish with your braces or Invisalign treatment, your orthodontic journey with Dr. Dann Orthodontics is not over. The next phase is retention. Retention is the process of making sure your teeth don’t shift back into position after the removal of braces. This is accomplished through utilizing a retainer (which will be provided to you at either our Winter Park or Orlando, FL office). A retainer fits over your teeth sort of like a mouth guard that is specifically designed to keep your teeth from moving while they settle into their new, perfect positions.
It is vital that you wear your retainer for the prescribed amount of time each day for the duration of the retention phase of your orthodontic treatment. This phase lasts a minimum of 24 months after your braces come off. From there you should still continue to wear your retainer at night so as to better protect your straight smile from shifting.
Caring for Your Retainer
As you go through the retention phase of orthodontic treatment, it is important that you keep your retainer clean. Here are some of Dr. Dann Orthodontics’ tips for keeping you retainer in good condition.
* If you are wearing a removable retainer, be sure to remove it before you eat and while brushing your teeth.
* To keep your retainer tasting fresh and bacteria free, brush it twice a day (or every time you brush your teeth).
* To get your retainer extra clean, put it in a glass of water with a denture cleaner tablet such as Efferdent.
Securing Your Future Smile
Whether you are a patient of our Winter Park, FL or Orlando, FL practice, Dr. Dann will custom-make a retainer for you once your braces come off. All you have to do is wear it.
Throughout your first year with the retainer, we will want you to periodically come into our Winter Park or Orlando office so that we can check to see if any adjustments need to be made. If you lose or break your retainer in the meantime, however, be sure to contact us right away so that we can get you a new one as soon as possible.
Make An Appointment Today
Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainer. So take care of it, wear it as prescribed, and remember that your straight, beautiful smile will all be worth it! To learn more about retainers, retention, or the various types of braces offered at Dr. Dann Orthodontics, including Invisalign, reach out to us or book an appointment online today!