How to care for a dental retainer

Video: How to Clean Retainers (Hawley, Essix, Clear, etc)

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Caring for the Removable Retainer
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the Removable Retainer
Method 3 of 3: Caring for your fixed retainer
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Proper brushing is a prerequisite for dental care, and this is especially true if you need to wear a retainer (also called a plate). A dirty retainer collects bacteria, which is the source of bad breath. However, maintaining a retainer is not limited to cleaning. You will need to protect it from damage and store it in a special container when not in use. Maintaining permanent retainers is even more difficult, but you can get used to it. Retainers are expensive to replace, so it is important to properly care for the plate and follow the advice of your orthodontist.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Caring for the Removable Retainer

1 Wear the retainer as directed by your healthcare practitioner. You may need to wear it all the time if it doesn't get damaged. If you have been wearing a retainer for a long time, your orthodontist may suggest that you remove it for a short time. Always follow your doctor's advice and ask him any questions you have.
- Typically, the retainer is worn until the roots of the teeth, jawbone, and gums are anchored in the desired position around the aligned teeth. This takes time, and your orthodontist will be able to determine how long it will take in your case.
- Typically, patients are advised to wear retainers without removing them for the same amount of time as they wear braces.
- At first, you need to wear the retainer all the time, but over time, the orthodontist may only allow you to wear it at night.
2 Remove retainer before eating. Food can damage the retainer and will most certainly get stuck in the retainer. Always remove retainer before eating and store in container.
3 If you play sports, replace the retainer with a splash guard during training. In any situation in which there is a risk of damage or loss of the retainer, it should be removed. Store the retainer in a special container and keep track of where you put it.
- Protecting your teeth while exercising is important even if you are not wearing a retainer.
- You cannot put a mouthguard over the retainer. Physical contact, even though through this device, can damage the retainer and cause injury.
- If possible, avoid contact sports during bite correction. At this time, the bones are weakened, and any impact can lead to undesirable consequences and irreparable damage.
- Some orthodontists recommend removing the retainer even before swimming. If the retainer falls out of your mouth, it may be lost in the water.
4 Store the retainer properly. Each time you remove the retainer (before eating, exercising, or for cleaning), you will need to put it in a container. This will prevent him from getting lost or damaged.
- Never wrap the retainer in a tissue or paper towel. This way you can accidentally throw it away.
- Always carry a container with you if the retainer is in your mouth. If you need to remove the retainer, always store it in a container.
- Do not leave the retainer in direct sunlight, including in a car, as high temperatures can melt the plastic. Do not store the retainer near a stove or radiator for the same reason.
- Do not leave a retainer without a container, even at home. It can get lost, and if you have a dog, it can chew on it (dogs are attracted to smell).

Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the Removable Retainer

1 Brush the retainer. This should be done every day. In order not to forget about this, it is best to clean the retainer at the same time as your teeth. This will allow you to keep the retainer clean and odor-free.
- Remove the retainer from the teeth.
- Rinse under cool running water.
- Squeeze some toothpaste (about the size of a pea) onto the brush and gently rub the retainer.
- Rinse the retainer thoroughly and then either place it on your teeth, let it clean further, or fold it into a container.
2 Soak the retainer for a more thorough cleaning. Leave the retainer in the cleaning solution from time to time. Many orthodontists recommend using a mouthwash or special dental pills to cleanse retainers for this purpose. However, there are doctors who strongly oppose these drugs, because they contain persulfate and alcohol, which can damage the retainer and the oral mucosa.
- A harmless alternative to these treatments is regular baking soda. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a small bowl of cool water and place the retainer in this solution.
- Do not use vinegar - it can corrode metal parts and plastic. Do not use bleach - the porous surface of the plastic can absorb it.
3 Do not let the retailer dry out. You may have noticed that the retainer dries out quickly. It is made to stay in the mouth all the time, where it is always humid. When you are not wearing it, it is best to put it in liquid so that the plastic does not dry out and collapse.
- Fill a small bowl with water and leave the retainer in it.
- It is best to use distilled water as it will not contain harmful chemicals or abnormalities in the acid-base balance.
- The water should be cool or at room temperature. Hot water can damage plastic and should not be used.

Method 3 of 3: Caring for your fixed retainer

1 Follow the advice of your orthodontist. Unlike the removable retainer, the permanent retainer cannot be removed. However, this does not mean that you do not need to look after him. Follow your doctor's advice.Most likely, the doctor will explain to you exactly what to do, as well as tell you what foods should not be eaten.
- Most often, permanent retainers are worn for about five years. Some can be worn for a lifetime. It all depends on the condition of the teeth and the doctor's recommendations.
- Follow all the recommendations of your orthodontist and tell your doctor about any problems you have.
2 Avoid food that could damage the retainer. Since non-removable retainers are firmly attached to the teeth, there are dietary restrictions - some foods can touch the attachments. Generally, eating restrictions when wearing a retainer are the same as when wearing braces.
- Do not eat hard or crunchy foods as this can damage the retainer.
- Avoid caramel, hard candy, and chewing gum. This food can get stuck in the wire and damage the retainer.
- Eat fewer sweets and drink fewer sugary sodas as sugar increases your risk of tooth decay.
- Try to eat fewer acidic foods and drink fewer acidic drinks, including citrus fruits and sodas.
3 Floss your teeth and retainer. To thoroughly clean your teeth and the space above and below the retainer wire, you will need a dental floss with a holder. The holder is a rigid nylon fixture with a loop at the end. With this attachment, you will be able to draw the floss between your teeth and around the retainer wire.
- Unwind about 45 centimeters of regular dental floss.
- Thread one end of the thread through the holder and pull until you are about halfway up.
- Bring the holder to the area of your teeth that you want to brush. Rotate the holder downward when brushing your lower teeth and upward when brushing your upper teeth.
- Gently remove the holder and then floss your teeth as usual (around the gums and under the retainer wire).
- Thoroughly clean the spaces between your teeth. Do not use hard toothpicks as they can damage the retainer.
4 Brush your teeth around the retainer. Brushing your teeth with a fixed retainer can be tricky because you can't get the retainer out and then put it back. However, this is similar to brushing your teeth with braces, which you are probably already familiar with.
- Use a soft bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging metal parts. Brush your teeth as usual: for at least 2 minutes with up and down strokes.
- Brush the back and chewing surfaces of your teeth as usual. When cleaning the front surface, gently brush along the gums and then over the wire.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly. Take a look in the mirror to make sure there are no plaque or food debris in your teeth. If you notice any marks, brush your teeth again.
- You can also use a special herringbone brush. These brushes are designed to clean the surface of the teeth around the wire of the braces and retainer and make it easier to care for your teeth. But do not scrub too hard with this brush, as the retainer may bend or come off.

Tips

Ask your orthodontist about the basic guidelines for maintaining your retainer. If you have questions, ask your doctor.
If you are not using a retainer, it should be in a case or in a special cleaning solution.

Warnings

Do not put the retainer in your pocket - you could accidentally sit on it and crush it. Always place the retainer in a special cover or container.
Do not wrap the retainer in paper, tissue, or paper towels. The napkin will stick and make it difficult to remove. In addition, you can accidentally throw the retainer away, thinking that it is just a used wipe.