A retainer helps you get the desired functional bite and attractive smile throughout the final phase of orthodontic treatment. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain this device properly or run the risk of having to wear braces again. During your routine examinations, our expert orthodontist, Dr. Simona Lekht, will give you valuable advice on how to keep your retainer in place.
How Custom Retainers Help Keep Your Teeth Straight
A retainer keeps your teeth in place and stabilizes the oral structures once they are in the proper position. This step is crucial to your outcome because without it, your teeth could quickly slip out of alignment, requiring additional orthodontic treatment. To achieve the finest results in the shortest amount of time, it is essential to wear and care for your retainer properly. Fortunately, using and maintaining a retainer is relatively simple, and any initial discomfort should subside after a few days of use.
How to Take Care of Your Retainer
- Retainers require daily brushing, just like teeth. The best toothpaste and toothbrush are your standard ones; steer clear of boiling water and domestic cleaning supplies. Avoid applying too much pressure to the wires and back edges of the retainer; instead, hold it firmly by the plastic core section. Throughout the course of your treatment, these actions can help keep your retainer in good condition.
- Take care when removing the retainer. With your thumbs at the bottom and your pointer fingers at the top, start at the back and slowly draw down. Gently move the retainer around until it “pops” out. Weakness or fracture may result from attempting to remove the retainer from the front with force.
- When not in use, such as when eating, drinking, or swimming, don’t forget to keep your retainer in its case. If there are any other times when you should remove your retainer, our orthodontist can advise you; otherwise, you should wear it continuously, even at night.
Successful Orthodontic Treatments with Retainers
CDS Orthodontics uses a range of retainers to help make your orthodontic treatment successful by keeping your teeth in place. These oral appliances are crucial to achieving a straighter smile, so we encourage you to take good care of your retainers. During your fitting, our Dr. Simona will assess which kind of appliance best suits your requirements and objectives. She will also give you more thorough care instructions.