Wearing a Retainer After Straightening Your Teeth

Congratulations on getting orthodontic treatment for the health and appearance of your smile! Whether you wore braces or clear aligners, you will still need to wear a retainer to maintain that beautiful symmetry with your newly aligned teeth and bite. While wearing braces or clear aligners is phase one of your orthodontic treatment, retainers are basically “phase two” to ensure continued success.

Why Are Retainers Needed After Braces?

Your newly straightened teeth won’t be able to hold their new positions without a placeholder to maintain them. In orthodontics we call that retention, meaning your teeth retain their position instead of gravitating back to their old places.

If you don’t wear a retainer, you allow your cementum and gums to shift back — retainers work by holding the tissue where it has been moved. Over time, your teeth will adjust to their new positions with the help of the retainer.

How Your Retainer Supports Your Smile 

Stabilizes your bite

• Protects your mouth from improperly erupting wisdom teeth
• Keeps your bones and gums aligned with your teeth
• Prevents the need for additional orthodontic treatment later

Types of Retainers

-Fixed or bonded retainer: A strong wire bent around the inside of your teeth is cemented in place to keep your teeth aligned and stable. Brush and floss daily to keep your retainer free from harmful plaque formation. This also means keeping all scheduled routine dental cleanings so hardened plaque (tartar) is removed and doesn’t irritate your teeth and gums.

-Hawley retainer: The base of this popular retainer is made from plastic or acrylic and metal bars that wrap around your newly straightened teeth on the top and bottom. You can take it out to eat and clean.

Clear plastic retainer: This clear retainer made from plastic conforms to your teeth for a perfect fit while keeping them in place. Clean them every day to keep them looking and feeling their best!

What Not To Do With Your Retainer

Wear your removable retainer as directed and clean it using cool water to avoid warping (no dishwasher, hot water, alcohol or bleach to clean). Don’t wear your retainer while dining, and keep it in a sturdy container case when you take them out so you don’t lose it. Don’t use abrasive cleaners like toothpaste or baking soda to clean your clear retainer and brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. While it might be tempting, don’t swim with your retainer so you don’t lose or damage it.

We hope you love your straightened teeth and are committed to protecting them by properly wearing your retainer. After investing in a beautiful smile, you can easily keep it that way by taking good care of your teeth, gums and retainer every day! If you have any questions about orthodontics or retainers, give us a call today! We love to help!