After wearing braces for years, or months, most people want the opportunity to show off their beautiful smiles. However, the key to keeping this smile beautiful is a retainer.
An orthodontist will likely tell patients to wear their retainer at all times -; at least for six to 12 months -; and then a few nights per week after that. This is done to prevent the teeth from shifting back from the desired position. However, living with a retainer can be challenging. While there is help at clearretain.com about wearing a retainer, the tips here can also be beneficial.
- Wear the Retainer as Instructed
With retainers, it’s crucial that a person wears it based on the orthodontist’s instructions. While this can be annoying at times, wearing the retailer will help ensure a person’s new smile stays that way.
- Keep the Retainer Away from Heat
While someone wearing a retainer may enjoy spending time in the sun or even a cup of hot coffee, heat and retainers don’t mix. If a retainer gets too hot, it can warp or melt the plastic the retainer is made of. This will affect how it fits and the strength and ability it has to hold the teeth in place. Don’t leave the retainer in a hot car or the sun, either, to prevent this.
- Keep the Retainer in the Provided Case
A removable retainer will come with a case to use while eating. This reduces the likelihood the retainer will be damaged or that a person will lose it. It’s a good idea to carry the case at all times and when the retainer is removed, put it inside.
- Clean the Retainer and Case Regularly
The retainer should be treated as an extension of a person’s case, which means it needs to be cleaned regularly. Just like teeth, tartar, calcium, and other debris can buildup and increase the risk of infection or damage.
- Retainers Should Be Kept Away from Pets
Dogs may see a person’s retainers as a fun chew toy; however, it’s best to make sure they don’t wind up with this. Retainers can be easily damaged, especially if a dog gets ahold of it, so it is a good idea to keep the retainer in the case and put up any time it is not being worn.
- Get a Spare
Accidents can happen. As a result, it is a good idea to have a spare retainer on hand for issues that arise. Most orthodontists can provide these extras at a small additional fee.
- Replace the Retainer as Needed
Remember, a retainer isn’t supposed to last forever. Eventually, they will get loose, damaged, or warped. As a result, it will be necessary to replace them at some time. Even if a person tries to clean the retainer properly and regularly, the buildup of calcium is going to get so bad at a point that it won’t come off anymore. This can affect the fit. If these issues occur, the best thing a person can do is to replace it.
When it comes to retainers, there’s no question they need to be worn. However, because they can be annoying at times, there are some tips that will make this easier. Use the tips and information here to ensure that the retainer can do its job.
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