Caring for Your Retainers
You’ve finished your orthodontic treatment, so your days of wearing braces and aligners are through. Congratulations! But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a little more work ahead since your retainers play an important role in keeping your teeth in place. Learn how to care for your retainers with expert advice from Purcell Family Dental.
Ways to Protect Your Retainers
Removable retainers are both fragile and small. And that makes them easy to lose. Just ask the teachers and students who sort through trash cans in school cafeterias every year. Retainers can also break when they’re dropped or stashed in unprotected places, like in the bottom of purses or backpacks.
By caring for your retainers with four simple tips and tricks, you can protect them from unneeded damage—and safeguard your perfect smile.
1. Buy a Retainer Case (or Two)
If one retainer case is helpful, owning several is even better so you can keep them in different places. You can order retainer cases in every size, shape and color from your dentist or buy them online. Hint: Picking a color that stands out can make yours easy to spot.
Storage isn’t the only reason to use a retainer case. Keeping your retainers in a case can also keep them from becoming brittle over time. Soaking your retainers in water before putting them in a case also protects against them drying out.
2. Be Mindful of Where You Put Your Retainers
You’ll take your retainers out several times each day. And if you put them in the wrong place, they could get lost or broken. Many people, for example, wrap their retainers in a napkin while eating. But a scrunched-up napkin can easily be mistaken for trash.
Other places to avoid include:
- Your pocket, purse, or backpack
- Anywhere a pet may find them (pets love to chew on retainers!)
- Anywhere they could melt (such as outside on a hot day, inside a car, or on the stove)
3. Clean Your Retainers Regularly
It’s important to prioritize clean retainers. Different retainers require different types of cleaning, so follow your dentist’s instructions.
The following methods can also help you keep things clean:
- Brush your retainers with antibacterial soap and rinse them well
- Brush your retainers with toothpaste if your dentist says it’s okay
- Use an effervescent cleanser
- If your retainers become stained or yellow, you can try to remove the stain by gently brushing your trays with a mixture of baking soda and water. Some people also use white vinegar or a 50/50 blend of water and hydrogen peroxide.
4. Don’t Hesitate to Get New Retainers When You Need Them
Retainers last a long time, but they do wear out. Contact your dentist if your retainers no longer fit properly or are broken. Remember, you’re in the home stretch: You’ve likely spent a couple of years in orthodontic treatment to get where you are today—and well-fitted retainers preserve your hard work.
Wondering Where to Get Retainers?
You should contact your dentist right away if your retainers change shape, deteriorate, or get lost. Without properly fitted retainers, your teeth will eventually shift.
At Purcell Family Dental, we know retainers are an important part of preserving a beautiful and healthy smile for years to come. We can help you get new retainers or replace lost or broken ones. Contact us today.