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Posted on 1/20/2020 by First Impressions Orthodontics |
 You may have just gotten your braces off. If so, congratulations! That's something to celebrate. Now that your braces are off, you may have gotten a retainer from your provider. Now that you have a new appliance, how do you care for it to make sure that your retainer lasts? We have some answers for you. What Is a Retainer?A retainer is a plastic appliance made of a combination of plastic and metal. Often, we use retainers for our patients immediately after we remove their braces. This is to make sure that the tooth movement we managed to accomplish with braces remains permanent. Sometimes, we use retainers to correct minor issues with spacing and crowding in the mouth. How Do You Care for a Retainer?If you have been outfitted for a retainer, we have some tips for you so that you can care for your retainer properly. First, you need to take your retainer out when you eat. Retainers are strong, but they are not invincible. You can break your retainer on a number of foods, so it is best not to try it. Also, by taking out your retainer before you eat, you keep your retainer cleaner. We want to caution you, if you take it out before you eat, and you wrap it in tissue on your plate or tray- don't throw it away. We can't tell you how many times we have had to replace retainers because someone threw it in their trash. You also need to clean your retainer twice a day. We recommend you clean it when you brush and floss your teeth, which means you are able to brush and floss your teeth and clean your retainer twice a day. What a great way to make sure that your teeth and your retainer are clean! Do you have questions about your retainer? Give us a call! |
