31 Jul How To Take Care Of Your Retainers
At Euksuzian Orthodontics, our number one goal is helping you achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve, and we believe that one of the best ways to achieve that goal is through patient education. As important as the high quality orthodontic care that we provide is, the reality is that your oral hygiene routine is just as critical to your orthodontic success. That’s why for this blog, we’re going to give you a crash course in retainers: what they do, why they’re important, and what you can do to take care of them and keep them working their best.
What is a Retainer?
We know how excited you’ll be once we remove your braces, but keep in mind that your treatment isn’t over yet: now begins the retention phase. In this phase of treatment, we’ll fit you with a retainer. This is oral appliance designed to keep your teeth in their new, ideal positions. The retention phase lasts a minimum of 24 months, and we’ll give you detailed instructions on how many hours a day to wear it.
What many patients don’t realize is that retention is one of the most critical parts of their treatment. Although your teeth will be in new positions after you finish with your braces, the bones and tissues of your jaw haven’t yet set into place – this means that without a retainer, your teeth will just move back to their original positions, erasing all your hard work! That’s why it’s so important to wear your retainer for the recommended amount of time each day, keeping it clean for optimal performance.
How to Clean Your Retainers
To clean your retainer, make sure you brush it with toothpaste regularly – at least every time you take it out and put it back in. Every once in a while, you may want to drop it into a glass with a denture tablet to give it a more thorough cleaning. When you’re not wearing it, make sure to keep it in its case to protect it from damage or loss. If you’re worried about the status of your retainer, you can always come see us for to have it checked out. Following these steps will keep your retainer clean and working correctly, helping to safeguard your new smile!
Contact Your Marlton & Medford, NJ Orthodontist
Have more questions about retention or your orthodontic health in general? We’re always here to help! Feel free to reach out to us at our contact page or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment at our Medford, NJ office. We also serve patients from Marlton, Mt. Laurel, and Mt. Holly, NJ. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we look forward to seeing you back at this blog for more tips and info on caring for a beautiful, healthy smile!