4 Tips for Excellent Retainer Care

Your smile has come a long way with the help of orthodontics! Now that your treatment is complete, it’s time to maintain your beautiful results with the help of a retainer. Retainers do not move your teeth like your braces or aligners did; rather they help reinforce their new positioning so that your teeth don’t get a chance to go back to their original positions.

How long you will need to wear your retainer or retainers will vary, but no matter the duration you will still need to take care of them. Here are four important tips for keeping them in great shape so they remain in great working order for the duration of their use!

Remove it for Meals

The first rule of retainer use is that you must take it out for meals. This will not only keep it clean, but it will also prevent food from getting trapped underneath, which is both bad for your oral health and can be very uncomfortable.

If you do need to wear your retainer away from home, be sure to carry your storage case with you so that you don’t get it dirty, misplace it, or damage it while you remove it for meals.

Keep it Clean

Remove your retainer to clean it at least once a day. You don’t need to anything special for it; just brush gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste and rinse it well. You can also soak it in retainer soak or water with baking soda in it.

If you do remove it for the day or overnight, be sure to clean it before storing it, not after.

Be Gentle

When cleaning your retainer, do not use any harsh chemicals that could damage it or make you sick. Never use bleach or any alcohol-based mouthwashes, as these can damage the retainer and injure your mouth. Furthermore, never boil your retainer, as this can melt the plastic and warp the metal! Instead, stick to retainer soak or water with baking soda and vinegar, or even denture soak.

Take it Out

Finally, be sure to take it out when you brush your teeth. Leaving it in will cause you to miss portions of your mouth as well as areas of the retainer itself. Thus, when it’s time to care for your teeth, remove it, brush and floss your teeth, and then brush and rinse it separately. Once it is clean, you can either put it back in or store it away as needed.

Remember, retainers are an absolute must for maintaining the results of your orthodontic treatment. Caring for them is essential to keeping them in good working condition. Follow these guidelines for successful use, and you’ll enjoy them (and your new smile!) for years to come!

About Our Practice

At Pace Dental of Vienna, our team prides itself on providing conservative dentistry to patients of all ages. This means that we never do more than is necessary when it comes to your oral health, and there’s no need to wonder if your dentist is repairing healthy teeth or recommending an unnecessary treatment just to make an extra buck.

To schedule an orthodontic appointment with one of our dentists, please visit our website or call us today at 703-705-7476.