Retainers
Retainers
Keep Your Teeth Straight Forever with a Retainer or Retainer Care at BHG Orthodontics
After your braces are removed you will need to wear a retainer.
Why do I Need a Dental Retainer?
Braces use constant, gentle pressure to shift your teeth over time, which we refer to as the active period. Once that period is over and your braces are removed, the process of maintaining your newly straightened teeth begins. This step is called retention. Retention involves the use of a clear retainer to keep your teeth from shifting.
A dental retainer is a custom-made device made of a clear plastic material.
How Long do I Wear My Retainer?
Dr. Hill and Dr. Gross
will advise you how long to wear your dental retainer. It is essential to wear the retainer as instructed by your orthodontist to prevent teeth from shifting. Time varies with each patient.
Does Wearing a Retainer Hurt?
Don’t get discouraged by any speech changes or discomfort when you first get your retainer. After the first two or three days, your speech will return to normal and soreness will subside.
When it comes to the daily activities, take your dental retainer out to eat, swim or play vigorous sports. Wear it all other times as instructed by Dr. Hill and Dr. Gross.
Get in the Habit of Wearing Your Retainer
Retainers belong in your mouth, not in your pocket.
It can be easy to forget or neglect your retainer, which is why you should get in the habit of wearing it as soon as you receive it. You’ve invested time, money and energy into your healthy smile.
Here are some tips and tricks to retain the benefits of your braces:
- Store your retainer in a brightly coloured case so that it stands out.
- Write yourself or your child a reminder and place it in an obvious area such as on a bathroom mirror or nightstand.
- Keep your retainer in the same spot – always. This will reduce the chance of misplacing it.
Make your dental retainer part of your routine. If you wear your retainer overnight, make it part of your nightly ritual to clean and put on your retainer after brushing your teeth.
How to Clean and Care for Your Retainer
Removable Retainers
Dental retainers are fragile and easy to lose. If your retainer is not in your mouth it should be in your case!
Just like your teeth, clean your retainer by brushing it gently. For a more thorough cleaning, use denture cleaner. Don’t try to boil your retainer to sterilize it as this will cause it to melt.
Never wrap your retainer in paper napkin or tissue. It can be tempting when you’re in a hurry, but you or someone else may throw it away. The safest place for your dental retainer is in the case.
Permanent Retainers
If you have a bonded wire retainer behind your teeth, be careful to clean the wire and the area around it.
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