Retainer Instructions

Retainer Instructions: Your smile is perfect. Now what?

Learn how to wear your retainer properly—the surefire way to safeguard the smile you’ve worked so hard for.

retainers in cincinnati

You've Worked Hard For Your Beautiful Smile; Keep It That Way!

Finally, your braces have been removed and your smile is beautiful, straight, and best of all, metal-free! However, your orthodontic journey isn't quite completed. To keep your smile looking its best, you'll have to wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results. Retainers are needed to control or limit potential changes in tooth position. They are used after braces treatment to hold teeth in their correct alignment. Retainers are a lifetime commitment if you want your nice straight smile to last.

Retainer Instructions

  • Wear your retainer every night, unless the doctor instructs otherwise. You will do this for the first year following orthodontic treatment. We will wean you to a less frequent routine after that.
  • If you are instructed to wear your retainer full time, take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
  • Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and soap. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of mechanically brushing the retainers.  
  • When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
  • Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
  • Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself.
  • Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
  • Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
  • Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
  • Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins!

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