First things first, let’s make it clear that the most important thing to remember about your retainer is that you need to wear it! Once you get your braces removed, Dr. Andy will provide you with a retainer that is designed to fit your teeth perfectly. This retainer will keep your teeth from shifting back into their crooked positions. It is so important to know how to take care of your retainer for the days to come!
For the first six weeks, you will need to wear your retainer 24/7, only removing it when you eat and brush and floss your teeth. After that, you will have to wear your retainer only at night. To keep your teeth as straight as possible, we recommend that you continue to wear your retainer at night indefinitely, even if it’s just a few times a week.
Do You Know How to Take Care of Your Retainer Properly?
Along with wearing your retainer regularly, you will need to take care of it properly. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your retainer:
- Always put your retainer in its case when it’s not in your mouth. Avoid placing it in a napkin while you eat because that greatly increases the chance that you may throw it in the garbage on accident. Also be sure to keep your retainer out of reach of any young children and pets!
- Clean your retainer each day with a toothbrush and toothpaste to remove buildup and bacteria. If you’re concerned about a smell or a taste on your retainer, you may find it helpful to soak your retainer in mouthwash or a special retainer cleaning solution for a few minutes.
- Keep your retainer out of direct sunlight and never use hot water to clean it. Warming up the plastic can warp the retainer and cause it to no longer fit properly.
- If you do lose or break your retainer, please make an appointment with Dr. Andy immediately. The longer you go without wearing your retainer, the more time your teeth have to shift back to their original positions. Trust us; you don’t want to get braces all over again!
Questions?
If you’re unsure about how to take care of your retainer or want to learn more about getting braces, contact Dr. Andy’s office today!
7444 State Rd
Parma, OH 44134
Phone: (440) 842-8015
Email: info@skorothodontics.com