Retainers
Maintaining your beautiful smile: Retainers 101
Congratulations on achieving your dream smile! Now that your braces are off, it’s time to focus on preserving your results. Wearing a retainer is an essential part of the orthodontic journey to maintain the alignment of your teeth. Retainers help prevent potential changes in tooth position and ensure your smile stays beautiful and stable.
To ensure the success of your orthodontic treatment, it is crucial to wear your retainer continuously, unless instructed otherwise by Dr. Harmon. Here are some important guidelines to follow for the care and maintenance of your retainer:
Retainer instructions
- Remove and store during meals: When eating, always take out your retainer and store it in its case to avoid misplacing it. Lunchrooms and restaurants are common places where retainers can easily get lost.
- Daily cleaning routine: Clean your retainer once a day using a toothbrush and toothpaste with warm water. While orthodontic appliance cleaners like efferdent® can be used, they should not replace brushing. Remember to be gentle while cleaning to avoid damaging the retainer.
- Store safely: When not in use, always keep your retainer stored in its case. Pets are often attracted to retainers, so storing them properly will help prevent any unwanted accidents.
- Adaptation period: Initially, you may find it challenging to speak with your retainer in place. However, with practice, you will adapt more quickly and become more comfortable with wearing it.
- Handle with care: Retainers are delicate, so it is important to handle them with care. Avoid bending or adjusting them yourself. If your retainer is lost or damaged, contact your orthodontist immediately for assistance.
- Bring to appointments: Always remember to bring your retainer to your orthodontic appointments for evaluation and adjustment if necessary.
- Avoid hot water and damage-prone areas: Keep your retainer away from hot water, car dashboards, pockets, washing machines, and napkins. These can cause distortion or damage to the retainer.
- Remove during swimming: When swimming, remove your retainer to prevent it from being lost or damaged in the water.
