RETAINER CARE AND MAINTENANCE
It is important to take care of your retainers as they can easily be damaged and will be less effective. Please check your removable retainer regularly for cracks and if you have a fixed retainer look our for wire breakages or loose parts. Undetected breakages or failures of your retainers may result in relapse.
Contact us if you have problems with your retainer.
REMOVABLE RETAINERS
Clean your retainer when you brush your teeth (i.e. 2x a day)
Clean your retainer with a tooth brush and cold water (do not use hot water as this will distort the retainer and it will not fit).
You can occasionally soak your retainer in a cleaning solution or sterilising agent (e.g. Milton®)
When you are not wearing your retainer store it safely in a hard container (Retainer box)
Please wear as you have been instructed and remove for eating, drinking and sporting activities
You should bring your retainers with you when you come for your review appointments.
FIXED OR BONDED RETAINERS
Depending on your individual bite you may be more likely to break or damage your fixed retainer so you should check your brace is not damaged every day
You should take care to clean well around your fixed retainer as it will attract plaque and calculus leading to gum disease and recession which is irreversible
We can advise you how best to maintain your dental health and may recommend special tools e.g. Super floss™ or a Single tufted toothbrush
Take care when eating hard or sticky foods as this may damage your retainer
Please be aware that if you have a Fixed retainer you must attend for regular dental check
#HOLD THAT SMILE
Click here to see the "Hold that smile campaign" video to learn more about Orthodontic Retention
WHAT IS A RETAINER?
A Retainer is an appliance designed to hold the teeth in their corrected position after your brace treatment. Retainers can be fixed (attached to the teeth) and removable. Often patients wear both a Fixed retainer* (Bonded retainer) and a Removable retainer over the top to ensure their teeth do not relapse.
WHY DO I NEED TO WEAR A RETAINER?
When your brace treatment has finished it is anticipated that your tooth positions may change. Evidence now tells us that over our lifetime our tooth positions continue to change. This can occur whether you have had brace treatment (with or without tooth extractions) or not, and is considered a normal age-related change. The only way to ensure that these changes are kept to a minimum is to wear a retainer.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO WEAR MY RETAINER?
The simple answer is “for as long as you want to keep your teeth straight”. Once you stop wearing your retainers there is a risk of unwanted tooth movement, no matter how long ago you had your treatment.
If you choose to stop wearing your retainers you must accept responsibility for any changes which occur. Repeated courses of brace treatment are not advised and may risk irreversible damage to your dental health.