The benefits of braces are worth the time, effort, and maintenance, from improving your smile to addressing oral health problems. Once you complete the treatment, you finally get the grin you’ve been waiting for.
Your dentist in Kissimmee will further advise you to wear a retainer after having your braces removed. You must follow the recommended retainer care and wear instructions after wearing braces to make sure your smile remains beautiful. You will learn all the fundamental knowledge required in this post to maintain a beautiful smile for the rest of your life.
Importance of Retainers
Your teeth may naturally want to return to their original locations after your braces or aligners are taken off. It’s known as an orthodontic relapse. By keeping your teeth in place and enabling the surrounding tissues to settle, retainers stop this relapse. Although your teeth are more likely to shift right away following retainers near you, you are always at risk for relapse. Maintaining the integrity of your smile depends on wearing your retainer as directed by your orthodontist.
Types of Retainers
The three primary categories of removable retainers are:
- Retainers for Hawley: A wire that wraps around the front of your teeth is attached to a base made of plastic or acrylic that rests against the roof of your mouth or along its bottom. To ensure a snug and comfortable fit, the wire can be adjusted.
- Essix Retainers: Compared to Hawley retainers, Essix retainers are transparent, slender, and less obvious. They provide a discrete option for preserving your smile since they fit over your teeth like a clear shell.
- Fixed Retainers: Also referred to as bonded or permanent retainers, these tiny wires are affixed to the teeth’s roots with dental cement. Fixed retainers offer a smooth way to keep your teeth in place and are not noticeable from the front. They are typically advised for the lower front teeth because relapse occurs there the most frequently.
Advice on Maintaining Your Retainer
- Regularly Clean Your Retainer
You must frequently clean your retainer if you want to keep your mouth healthy and extend its life. Use a gentle, non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your retainer every day. Be gentle to prevent causing surface damage to the retainer. After eating, properly rinse it under cool water to get rid of any food residue.
- Avoid Damaging Foods and Drinks
Some foods and beverages might cause warping or breaking in your retainer. When using a retainer, stay away from hot meals and beverages because they may cause the retainer to lose its form. Additionally, avoid foods that are sticky or crunchy because they may harm the structure of your retainer. Before eating, take out your retainer and put it carefully in its case.
- Handle It Carefully
To avoid spreading bacteria or dirt, always handle your retainers in Kissimmee with clean hands. When placing or removing the retainer, make sure your movements are controlled and gentle. It should not be bent or twisted, as this can weaken the material and eventually impair how it fits.
- Keep it in the Case
When not being worn, keep your retainer in a case where it can be kept secure. The likelihood of loss or damage increases if you leave it out in the open on a surface or napkin. Your retainer is shielded from smudges, harm, and accidents with a durable casing.
Wear Retainers as Your Dentist Has Instructed
You will receive detailed instructions from our pediatric dentist near you on how frequently to wear your retainer. You might need to wear it all day at first before switching to wearing it at night. Maintaining the effects of your orthodontic treatment depends on following the recommended wear regimen.
Need Dental Assistance? We’re a Call Away
At Smile 101, we work hard to give newborns, kids, and teenagers the best dental care possible. If you have any concerns concerning the oral health of your teen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.