Table of Contents
How do I keep my retainer in good condition?
The care of the retainers can be carried out as follows:
- Clean Your Retainer Regularly.
- Wear Your Retainer Often.
- Avoid Heat On Your Retainer.
- Keep Your Retainer Away From Pets.
- Avoid Putting Napkins On Your Retainer.
- Soak Your Retainer.
- Replace Your Retainer When Needed.
- Carefully Put On And Take Off Your Retainer.
Do retainers need to be cleaned daily?
Your retainer sits inside your mouth and against your teeth, so it quickly accumulates bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Just like you brush your teeth every day, it’s important to clean your retainer every day. Some people may even need to wear their retainers at night indefinitely to keep teeth in place.
Should I keep my retainer in water?
It’s best to store your retainer in its carrying case to keep it safe, but soaking your retainer in water can help keep it clean. We recommend soaking your retainer once a week to keep it free of bacteria. Storing your retainer while it’s still wet can lead to bacteria and put your oral health at risk.
How often should I wash my retainer?
Clean retainers thoroughly at least once a day preferably right before inserting them in your mouth. Use cold – not hot water. Rinsing your retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. At least once every two weeks, soak your retainers in a denture cleaner, like Efferdent®, to thoroughly clean them.
Should I soak my retainer in mouthwash?
Never soak your retainer in mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, or bleach; the chemicals will distort it.
Can retainers make your teeth yellow?
They can. In fact, many patients struggle with the yellowing of their retainers that can occur due to plaque buildup and staining from certain foods. Luckily, there are some small changes you can make to avoid staining your Invisalign trays and retainers.
Can I use toothpaste to clean my retainer?
Some things to NEVER do to clean your retainer! Do NOT use toothpaste or anything abrasive; it will scratch your retainer, causing bacteria to build up and make it look cloudy. Never soak your retainer in mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, or bleach; the chemicals will distort it.
When can I stop wearing retainer?
Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete and adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
Why do my retainers smell in the morning?
It is due to the bacteria in the mouth concentrating because of the reduce nighttime saliva flow. Wearing a retainer makes it worse. You need to brush your teeth after breakfast and clean the retainer. You can brush out any debris and use a liquid denture cleaning solution and soak the retainer right after you wake.
How long do you really have to wear a retainer?
The amount of retainer wear that’s required following a person’s active orthodontic treatment will vary according to the specifics of their case. It can range from none, limited, prolonged to permanent. Limited retainer usage may involve just 3 months of full-time wear, followed by 3 months of nighttime-only use.
How long do you have to wear retainer after your braces come off?
It’s important to wear the retainer exactly as your dentist/orthodontist recommends. Otherwise, your teeth may shift, especially if you stop wearing your retainer in the first two years after your braces come off. Most people wear their retainer 24/7 for at least 6 months to a year after the braces first come off.
How to clean your retainer?
Soak your Crusty Retainer in a warm bowl of half White Vinegar/half warm water for 20 minutes. The vinegar will help break up the ‘barnacle‘ looking mineral deposit on your retainer. Brush your retainer similar to your teeth. Small little circles. You probably will remove about 50-75\% of the mineral-deposit.
Do you need to wear a retainer forever?
Meaning that, as long as you want to keep your current results, you must wear your retainers (aka forever). There are options to have permanent retainers put in behind the teeth (small wires that are bonded out of sight), but these retainers only serve to retain the front teeth, not the back.