If you’ve ever worn braces, you know that there are few days as exciting as the day your orthodontist removes your braces, and you debut your new, gorgeous smile. It’s like you get your own personal red-carpet experience.
While the months of follow-up appointments, orthodontic adjustments, and being hyper-focused on watching what you eat are over, the next chapter of maintaining that smile you’ve always dreamed about has only just begun. Think retainers.
In this blog, J. A. Duval, DDS, in Warner Robins and Albany, Georgia, reveals his top seven retainer care tips to keep you smiling for many years to come.
Why retainers rule
While it’s true that completing active orthodontic treatment is a significant achievement to get you that beautiful smile, it’s only half of the equation. When active treatment ends, your teeth are in optimal alignment, but it takes time for them to settle and create a strong foundation in their new positions.
Retainers maintain that permanent alignment. Ironically, the underlying premise that makes orthodontics possible is at stake – the fact that you can alter bone tissue can also be its undoing if you don’t wear your retainer.
Proper retainer care to maintain your smile
For your retainer to do its essential work to preserve your new smile, there are several things you need to do to keep it in tip-top shape.
Think of your retainer as an extension of your teeth and make it part of your oral hygiene routine. Keep your retainer fresh, clean, and odor-free by cleaning it daily. Use a separate toothbrush and orthodontic-specific product.
During the day, brush your teeth after meals and before putting your retainer back in your mouth. Don’t forget to rinse your retainer with lukewarm water before putting it back in your mouth.
Plan on doing a more intensive cleaning once a week to keep your retainer free of bacteria, staining, and any residual debris. This process is like soaking and takes 10 to 20 minutes. You can use special retainer cleaning tablets or a DIY solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to water.
There are even ultrasonic retainer cleaners on the market to make the whole process a breeze. Ask your orthodontist for recommendations and pick the product or process that is easiest for you.
Keep in mind that cleaning or sterilizing doesn’t require hot or boiling water. In fact, retainers are sensitive to hot water and can be damaged, such as warping. Similarly, avoid cleaning your retainer using whitening agents or toothpastes with abrasives.
Not all retainers are removable, so don’t forget to provide some TLC for fixed retainers. Fixed retainers are thin wires bonded to the back of teeth to prevent them from shifting. These wires offer places for debris and plaque buildup. Use floss threaders and special tools, such as interdental brushes or a water flosser, to thoroughly clean under the gum line and around the fixed wire.
Ongoing cleanliness of your retainer means storing it in a clean, safe place when you take it out of your mouth, rather than your pocket, a napkin, a backpack, or a purse. Your orthodontist provides you with a retainer case. Remember to carry it with you. If you need one less thing to remember, buy an extra carry case to keep at school or work.
Don’t forget to remove your retainer when you go swimming. The constant opening and closing of your mouth when swimming can dislodge your retainer, and chemicals in the swimming pool can damage it.
After active orthodontic treatment ends, you visit your orthodontist for regular follow-ups to monitor how well your teeth are stabilizing in their new positions. Be sure to bring your retainer with you for these appointments, so that they can ensure your retainer is in good working order and that it fits properly.
Similarly, if you notice a slight change in your retainer’s appearance, the way it fits, or even its smell, let your orthodontist know about it. It may be nothing of concern, but carefully monitoring any changes ensures your retainer is protecting that new smile you worked so hard for. Catching an issue sooner rather than later keeps a minor problem from turning into an expensive one.
To learn more about orthodontic treatment or retainers, contact Duval Orthodontics for a consultation by calling the office in Warner Robins or Albany, Georgia, or by booking an appointment online today.
