Retainer Instructions
Congratulations! Your braces are off! So you’re finished with your orthodontic treatment, right? Not quite. Together we have worked hard to move your teeth and give you a beautiful smile. Now we must maintain that great smile by using a retainer. The retainer keeps your teeth from moving back into their old position. Your job is to wear the retainer correctly. Here’s how to keep your new smile looking great!
- Wear your retainer every night or as instructed by Dr. Fowler.
- If at some point your retainer feels tighter than usual when you put it in the next day, this means your teeth are trying to move, so you will need to wear the retainer more during the day.
- When you are not wearing your retainer, always keep it in its case. Retainers often break in pockets. Children and pets love retainers. Never wrap your retainer in a napkin. It may get thrown out and you don’t want to scavenge through the garbage.
- Keep your retainer clean. As soon as you finish eating, brush your teeth and clean your retainer using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Always insert your retainer as soon as you have cleaned it. You may periodically use Retainer Brite, Efferdent, or other orthodontic appliance cleaners, but these do not take the place of brushing.
- It is important that the retainer keep its shape so your teeth will stay in their correct position. Be gentle when removing and replacing it. Avoid flipping it in and out with your tongue. The shape will become distorted and your teeth will move. Replace and remove the retainer exactly as instructed.
- Your speech may sound different for the first few days so keep talking, read out loud, and sing to the radio. The more you talk, the more quickly you will be able to speak clearly with your retainer.
- If a localized irritation of the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue develops as a result of the retainer, you can smooth down any rough edges with a clean fingernail file. If this is unsuccessful, call our office for an adjustment appointment.
- Retainers can melt! If a liquid is too hot to drink, it is too hot for your retainer. Putting your retainer in the microwave, boiling water, or a hot car will cause it to melt and will ruin it.
- Avoid soaking your retainer in strong solutions such as bleach or 409. These chemicals will distort its shape.
- Do not chew gum, taffy, or anything sticky while wearing your retainer.
- Remove your retainer while swimming or skiing in the ocean or river because it could fall out and disappear forever.
- Please bring your retainer to all retainer check visits in case adjustments are necessary.
- Please call us immediately if you have lost or broken your retainer so we can replace it before your teeth move.
