Introduction:
Your orthodontic care does not end when braces are removed. Your smile should be taken care as keenly as when braces were on. Retention phase is an important phase to maintain your new look and new stabilized ideal occlusion. New look and ideal occlusion is established with the help of bone resorption and bone deposition process and so this requires specific time for the changes to get stabilized in that new position.
The time or duration required for the retention phase will be decided by your orthodontist. Some cases require short duration while a few cases may require longer duration to get stabilized. So, for this retention purpose, retainers are given to patients. Taking care of retainers is patients’ responsibility. Following are some instructions and guidelines about taking care of retainers.
1) Clean Your Retainers Regularly:
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Cleaning your retainers is equally important as cleaning your teeth. Treat your orthodontic retainer as your teeth.
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It is better if you clean your retainer after having your meal as well, because it will remove debris from the retainer immediately as they are soft.
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Clean it with the use of a toothbrush and water.
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Toothpaste for cleaning of retainers should be avoided because toothpaste contains abrasive contents, which may scratch your retainer. Scratches on your retainer will increase the difficulty in keeping it clean.
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Avoid using boiling water, microwave, dish washer, etc., for cleaning your retainers.
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Avoid keeping your retainer on the dashboard of the car.
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If you notice any debris, stains, hard deposits, etc., on retainers that are not coming out, then take retainers to your dentist or orthodontist for professional cleaning.
Fixed Retainers - If you have fixed or bonded retainers, then you must keep it clean by flossing that area. In the beginning, you may feel it difficult but with practice it will be habitual.
What Happens If You Do Not Clean Your Retainers?
Your retainers will smell or taste worse if it is uncleaned for a longer period of time. Our oral cavity harbors a variety of good bacteria. But when we do not clean retainers, then debris will accumulate on it and retainer will give shelter to many microorganisms, which may be good or may be bad for our health. Until our immunity is strong, it will not cause any harm but may become threatful.
2) Brush Your Teeth Before Putting Retainers:
You should brush your teeth before putting retainers on your teeth, because if you put your support or retainers on dirty teeth, then the retainer will also become dirty very soon. So, it is advisable to brush your teeth before and after wearing retainers.
3) Be Careful While Using Retainers:
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When you are wearing your retainer, you should be careful that there is no gap in-between your retainer and your teeth.
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The fit of the retainer should be accurate and comfortable, and it should not be loosely fitting or it should not be too tight in any place.
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While taking off your retainer, you should be careful and avoid taking off with the help of your tongue.
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While removing your retainer, avoid pulling it from one side.
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Avoid pulling off your retainer by holding its wire components.
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Make sure that while removing, first loosen your retainer from several sites and then get it off.
4) Make a Habit of Using Retainer or Storage Box:
You should keep your retainer in storage box when not in use. Use of a storage box or retainer box will prevent you from missing your retainers anywhere. Storage boxes will prevent retainers from adverse effects of the environment, and they will be safe. Avoid putting napkins on your retainers or avoid wrapping your retainers with cloth or napkins or tissue paper. If you wrap your retainers in napkins or tissue while having a meal, then it may be accidently thrown in the trash.
5) Soak Your Retainers:
As I told you previously, avoid using toothpaste for cleaning your retainers. Then what to do? You can use retainer cleaning, which is available commercially in tablet form. Soak your retainers in that, as it will add extra cleaning to your retainer and will keep it safe. Or you can use soap water for retainer cleaning.
6) Avoid Keeping Your Retainer in Hot Environment:
Your orthodontist prepares your retainers with utmost accuracy and care while for perfect fitting. As retainers work properly when they fit properly. It is advisable that you should keep it safe when not in use, and avoid keeping it in a hot environment, for example in car, windowsill, etc. Otherwise, the retainer material will lose its property and it may deform, melt, or wrap.
7) Keep Your Retainers Away From Pets:
You love your furry friend like a kid but they have a tendency to snack on retainers when they find them. So, it is better to avoid keeping retainers in their vicinity.
8) Wear Your Retainers as Advised:
Retainers are the safest when in use. So do not forget to use them regularly for appropriate maintenance of your orthodontic treatment.
9) Replace Your Retainer When Needed:
You should replace your retainer when you feel it is not fitting properly, whether it is loose or it is causing trauma to soft tissue or it is hurting you. As we have discussed earlier, the fitting of the retainer is very important for its proper functioning. Over the period of time, even properly fitting or well-prepared retainers may lose their property and may hamper its efficiency. It may distort or function differently. So, when you notice its functioning differently, then you should visit your orthodontist and get it replaced if needed. Replacing your retainer is part of keeping your occlusion and smile maintained. Take care of your retainer properly till completion of your treatment. And by chance if you lose them, then make sure that you get it replaced as early as possible.
Conclusion:
The position of your teeth may change throughout your life and even if you think that your teeth are straight and stable now, then also it is essential to use your retainer as advised by your orthodontist. Retainer is the support system of your new smile and for its maintenance, it is essential to take care of your retainer. For more information, consult a dentist online now.
