How to take care of your orthodontics
Learn from these amazing videos
Hawley Retainers
By wearing your retainers as instructed by your Orthodontist, you can keep your beautiful smile for ever!
Check out these amazing videos to see some examples of orthodontic retainers.
To retain means to keep in place; therefore, an orthodontic retainer is used to keep your teeth in their new positions after your braces come off.
You are probably asking yourself this right now : Do I have to wear a retainer after my braces come off? The answer is: YES, absolutely!
It takes many months for your periodontal ligaments and bone to “remember” the new position of your teeth and keep them in place. The retainer helps keep them in their proper new positions. It’s important to wear the retainer exactly as your orthodontist recommends. Otherwise, your teeth may shift, especially if you stop wearing your retainer in the first two years after your braces come off.
After the initial period is over, you that you can switch to wearing your retainer only at night. Be sure to wear it EVERY night for at least 4 to 6 additional months. After that, if everything seems stable, you can probably switch to wearing it only several nights per week (always be sure to ask Dr.Guiga she recommends). If you totally stop wearing your retainer, even after a few years, your teeth may begin to move and shift.
Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
Important tips:
- Take your retainers out when eating… and always put retainers in their case. NEVER IN A PAPER NAPKIN! MOST RETAINERS ARE LOST LIKE THIS!!
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors.
- When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak BUT WITH A FEW DAYS OF practice you will be fine
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainer replacement is expensive …take good care of them and they can last for years!
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot surfaces, direct sunlight, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins
- Congratulation! You have just finished your orthodontic treatment and need to take care of your amazing smile!
