Retainers
Every orthodontist has different protocol to retainer wear after braces/invisalign removal. Please remove your retainer whenever eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. It is okay to consume water when wearing your retainers. When the retainer is not being worn please only place the retainers in its case to avoid any accidental breakage or loss.
I inform most of my patients to wear there retainers full time for 3 months then nightly after. It is important to continue to wear your retainers nightly as long as you want to keep your teeth straight.
To clean your retainers I have 2 different methods. You can brush your retainers with a soft toothbrush and dish soap. It is important to use a different brush than the one you use to brush your teeth. Another method is to soak your retainers in a cup of cold water with a Retainer Brite tablet (you can find on Amazon). Only use cold water when cleaning your retainer to avoid any warping.
Retainers FAQ
My retainers broke/ I lost my retainers what should I do?
If your retainers have broken or are lost please contact your orthodontic provider immediately so a new set of retainers can be made. If you wait too long your teeth will move and you may have to go back into orthodontic treatment.
I haven’t worn my retainer for a few nights will my teeth move?
After the initial few months of wearing your retainers, your teeth have most likely settled. Not wearing your retainer for one night should be okay. The next time you wear your retainer you will see how much your teeth have shifted based on how tight the retainer is.