Are you ready for your retainers? Congratulations! That means you’ve put a lot of effort into reaching this important milestone. Wearing retainers after braces ensures that beautiful smile stays that way.
How do retainers work? How long do you have to wear retainers after braces? How do you clean your retainers? Smith & Davis Orthodontics has heard all the questions, and we have the answers you need to make your retainers — and your smile — last a long time.
What Do Retainers Do?
Your teeth have spent months moving. Now that your braces are off, they need to stop moving. However, they won’t stop on their own. That’s where retainers come in!
Retainers hold your teeth in place and allow your jawbone to harden around the roots, keeping them in place. Your teeth will be less inclined to move after a few months, but they could still move. That’s why these devices are meant to be worn for a lifetime — just not for as long as in the beginning.
When you first get your retainers, we recommend wearing them at least 22 hours a day, taking them out to eat, drinking dark liquids, brushing, or flossing. Usually, you wear them most of the time for about 3-6 months.
Your jaw hardens after a few months, which allows you to reduce your time in retainers. We recommend they still be worn about eight hours a day. For most patients, this simply means wearing them overnight.
Whether it’s a few hours or most of the day, you must wear your retainers as prescribed. Otherwise, your teeth may move out of place, and you may have to have braces or clear aligners treatment again.
Know the Types of Retainers
There are three main types of retainers: Hawley, Essix, and permanent retainers.
- Hawley retainers are the “old style” retainers that combine acrylic pieces with wires that hold the teeth in place. The acrylic pieces fit along the lower gumline and on the roof of the mouth, and the wires snap on the front side of the teeth. They’re far less visible than traditional metal braces, but they are visible.
- Essix retainers closely resemble clear aligners. They are custom-molded acrylic that snap onto the teeth and hold them in place. Unlike clear aligners, Essix retainers are designed to keep the teeth in place rather than move them.
- Permanent or lingual retainers consist of a wire bonded to the back of the front teeth to hold them in place. They are “permanent” in that they cannot be removed.
How Do I Care for My Retainers?
Your retainers are meant to last for years. That can happen only if you care for them properly. You need to protect your retainers both in and out of your mouth. Clean your retainers regularly to protect them and you, and store your retainers properly when you aren’t wearing them.
Protect Your Retainers
Your retainers should be in a proper retainer storage case when they are not in your mouth. Storing them without a proper case could cause your retainers to get lost or damaged.
Keep your storage case in a secure place out of reach of small children or pets. Dogs, in particular, are attracted to your smell on the retainers and will chew them up quickly.
Make sure you store your retainers in a cool, dry place. Never leave them in a hot car or wash them in a dishwasher. Excessive heat can warp and damage them.
Best Way to Clean Retainers
We’ve had many people ask us how to clean plastic retainers. Do you simply brush your retainers with toothpaste? Can you use denture cleanser on retainers? How often do you clean your retainers?
You need to clean them at least once a day. You can use warm water with a variety of options: dish soap, white vinegar, or baking soda. Rinse them thoroughly afterward before putting them into your mouth.
Perform a deep cleaning by soaking your retainer in warm water with a cleanser tablet at least once a week. You can use a denture cleanser, but make sure the cleanser doesn’t have “scrubbing crystals” or the like. Such material can create microabrasions and give them a cloudy look, particularly with the clear Essix retainers.
You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean out stubborn plaque — that white stuff on retainers that won’t come off — but don’t use toothpaste. Like denture cleansers, toothpaste has abrasive particles that can damage your appliances.
Those with permanent retainers should brush and floss regularly with them. You can use an interproximal brush to get around the wire if necessary.
Why does your retainer smell? If they smell or taste funny, it’s likely because you’re not cleaning them often enough or thoroughly enough.
What to Do About a Broken Retainer
“I lost my retainer!” “My permanent retainer broke!” “My dog ate it!”
We’ve seen many ways they have gotten lost or damaged. It’s not uncommon to have a retainer emergency; we are here for you if it happens to your retainers.
Contact our office if you have any help with your retainer. We may be able to repair it with a few minor adjustments.
If you were provided a mold, keep it in a safe place so you can use this mold to have a new one made. If you didn’t get a mold or have lost yours, we can still make a new retainer for you, though it may take a bit longer.
Either way, Smith & Davis Orthodontics is here for you!
Retainer Care in Rogers, AR
We can’t stress enough the importance of wearing your retainers after braces. Retainers keep your teeth in place, so all that work you did to get that perfect smile doesn’t go towaste.
Schedule an appointment for retainer care in Rogers, AR, if you have any problems. Smith & Davis Orthodontics can help you with your retainers so that you can keep showing off that new smile!
