Retainers
- Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
- Take your retainers out when eating... and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or at restaurants when they are left on a tray and thrown away.)
- When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Never wrap them in a napkin or put them in you pocket. Pets love to chew on retainers!
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but these do not take the place of brushing.
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster.
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, and the washing machine.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately to prevent shifting of your teeth.
- If you notice that your permanent retainer has become loose from one of your teeth, call us so that it can be repaired. If it is left loose, your teeth can shift.
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, do not try to adjust them yourself--call us.
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainer replacement is expensive... with proper care they will last for years!
- Retainers should be worn for your lifetime; if they are, you can keep your teeth straight and beautiful!
