If you’ve recently completed your orthodontic treatment, or will be soon, congratulations on your new smile! Now that your braces are off or you don’t have to worry about Invisalign aligners anymore, it’s time to protect your investment. After all, you spent a lot of time, money, and effort to straighten out your pearly whites! Thankfully, you can expect to enjoy your results for the rest of your life by wearing and caring for your retainer as instructed. Read on to learn more about this important last step of your orthodontic treatment and how to make the most of it!
Retainers: Just As Important As Braces
To understand why wearing a retainer after braces or Invisalign is important for maintaining your results, lets take a closer look at how orthodontic treatment works. Braces and clear aligners apply a specific amount of pressure onto your teeth. This gradually shifts the roots of your teeth as well, which makes the jawbone tissue surrounding them change shape to adapt. That’s why orthodontic treatment is so gradual—moving teeth too quickly could fracture the roots of the teeth or damage the jawbone.
Once it’s time to take your braces off or complete your series of aligners, your jawbone will still need some time to heal and strengthen in order to hold your teeth in place. Wearing a retainer after your treatment will ensure that your teeth stay in their ideal positions as the bone tissue around the roots hardens. Since your mouth is constantly changing like the rest of your body, you’ll likely need to wear a retainer occasionally for the rest of your life to ensure your newly straighten smile stays perfectly aligned.
How to Care for Your Retainer
When you get your custom-made retainer, it’s essential that you take good care of it to ensure that it lasts for many years to come. A few simple tips to keep in mind include:
- Keep it clean: To prevent plaque and bacteria buildup and lower your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, make sure to clean and/or soak your retainer daily.
- Use the proper tools: Clean your retainer with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a cleaning solution approved by your orthodontist. NEVER put your retainer in the dishwasher, microwave, or boiling water, as this can warp or damage it. If you have a permanent retainer, make sure to use a pre-threaded flosser to clean underneath it.
- Keep your retainer in its case: Much like clear aligners, it’s all too easy to lose or damage your retainer if you keep it out in the open when you’re not wearing it. Instead, always store your retainer safely in its case.
- Follow your orthodontist’s instructions: Every smile is different, so some patients may need to wear their retainers longer or more frequently than others. It’s essential that you follow your orthodontist’s instructions for how often you should wear your retainer over the coming weeks, months, and years.
Don’t let all your hard work during your orthodontic treatment go to waste by neglecting the final step! Make sure to wear and care for your retainer properly so you can enjoy your happy, healthy, and beautiful smile for life.
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontics Holliston, we strive to make it easy to achieve and maintain a straighter smile. Alongside our experienced team, state-of-the-art technology, and wide variety of orthodontic treatments, we’re also pleased to offer a lifetime guarantee on your new smile. With our Retainers For Life program, you can replace worn-down, broken, or lost retainers for a small co-payment up to four times each year. To learn more about orthodontic appliances like retainers, we can be contacted online or at (508) 429-7800.