Caring For Your Retainer
Congratulations on your finished smile! Your retainer is what keeps it that way. Teeth naturally try to drift back to where they started, and wearing your retainer as directed is the only thing that holds your results for life. Here is how to wear and care for it.
Wear It As Directed
- Follow your wear schedule, often nightly. Teeth shift the moment you stop.
- If it feels tight after missing a few nights, your teeth have already started moving. Get back on schedule right away.
- If it no longer fits, call us before forcing it.
Cleaning It
- Rinse and gently brush it with cool water after each use. No toothpaste, which scratches.
- No hot water and never leave it in a hot car. Heat warps it and ruins the fit.
- Let it air dry before storing it in its case.
Protecting It
- Always store it in its case, never a napkin. Wrapped retainers get thrown away by accident.
- Keep it away from pets. Dogs love to chew them!
- A discolored or smelly retainer means bacteria, clean it well, and ask us about replacement if it persists.
Call Us If
- Your retainer is lost, cracked, or warped.
- It no longer fits or feels very tight. Call before forcing it.
- It feels sharp or rubs your gums or tongue.
- Anything feels off with the fit.
How To Keep Your Smile For Life
This is the simplest part of your whole treatment, and the most important. A retainer worn as directed is what protects everything you invested in your smile.
- Wear it as directed, for life. Retention is not temporary, teeth always want to drift back.
- Keep it clean and away from heat so it lasts and keeps fitting well.
- Replace it when it wears out. A worn or lost retainer left unreplaced is how people lose their results.
Wear it faithfully and your smile stays exactly where you worked so hard to get it!
Questions about your retainer or a replacement? Call the office anytime. We are here for you!
