Retainers for Teeth: Usage and Maintenance
The moment you step out of your orthodontist's office with a brand-new, straight smile, your journey towards maintaining that alignment has just begun. On the very same day you bid farewell to your braces or clear aligners, you’ll be introduced to your next crucial ally: the retainer.
This essential tool is key to preserving the alignment you’ve worked hard to achieve. However, like any dental apparatus, retainers come with their own set of care instructions and usage methods. Just as there's a correct way to brush your teeth, there's a right way to wear, clean, and maintain your retainers. It's thus essential to grasp these aspects to guarantee that your teeth remain in their new, pristine condition.
So, what should you know about this crucial stage of your dental care journey?
Understanding Retainers
A retainer is a custom-fitted dental device worn over your teeth to maintain their alignment after orthodontic treatment. This is a necessary step because following the removal of braces or clear aligners, your teeth are not yet firmly set in their new positions. It's during this critical phase that retainers become indispensable. They ensure your teeth stay aligned and prevent them from drifting back to their original misalignments.
This is vital because, post-braces, your teeth, gums, and the surrounding bone structure need time to adapt to the changes. Simple, daily activities like eating and speaking exert pressure on your teeth, which can cause them to shift. Retainers hold your teeth in their desired positions and aid the stabilisation process.
Essentially, while braces adjust your teeth, retainers preserve and protect your new smile, ensuring that your teeth remain in their corrected positions long-term.
Different Types of Retainers Explained
As mentioned, when your braces come off, the next step involves a visit to your dentist or orthodontist, who will fit you for a retainer. These dental professionals have specialised training in aligning teeth, assessing your specific needs, and recommending the most suitable type of retainer.
There are two primary forms of retainers: fixed retainers, which are permanent fixtures in your mouth, and removable retainers, which can be taken out.
Many individuals end up using a combination of both to ensure their teeth remain in place for years.
1. Bonded Retainers
Bonded retainers are durable, fixed devices that consist of a thin wire, either solid or braided, adhered to the inner surfaces of the teeth. This type of retainer is commonly recommended for patients at risk of their teeth reverting to their original positions. The wire is fixed in place using a dental adhesive similar to that used for braces, providing continuous support to maintain tooth alignment.
Bonded retainers are often preferred for younger individuals who may find the consistent wear of removable retainers challenging. While they offer the advantage of being less visible and continuous in their support, they do require meticulous oral hygiene practices. Careful and consistent brushing and the use of floss threaders are necessary to keep the teeth and gums around a bonded retainer clean and healthy.
2. Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are comprised of a sturdy acrylic or plastic base, shaped to fit snugly against the roof of your mouth or along your lower jaw, coupled with metal wires that encircle the teeth. This design includes a front wire that wraps around the front six teeth and side wires that secure to the molars, providing robust support to maintain alignment.
Known for their visibility, Hawley retainers are nonetheless popular due to their removability and long-lasting durability. They allow teeth to contact each other naturally, which many users find preferable for a more comfortable and familiar bite. And although initial adjustments might affect speech temporarily, the open design of Hawley retainers and their tried-and-true structure make them a favoured choice for long-term orthodontic maintenance.
3. Clear Plastic Retainers
Clear plastic retainers are moulded to fit over your teeth, maintaining their new positions by encasing each tooth completely. This fit ensures that the retainer is almost invisible when worn, with any minor gaps between the retainer and the teeth being barely noticeable. Their discreet nature makes clear retainers a favoured option for those who prioritise aesthetics post-orthodontic treatment. Additionally, these retainers typically do not interfere significantly with speech, adding to their appeal.
Correct Methods for Wearing Retainers
While bonded retainers are securely cemented in place by your orthodontist, requiring no daily placement by you, Hawley and clear plastic retainers do need to be inserted properly each day to ensure they perform their function effectively.
Inserting Hawley Retainers
To correctly insert your Hawley retainer, follow these steps:
Clean Your Hands: Ensure your hands are clean by washing them thoroughly before proceeding.
Position the Retainer: Hold the retainer with the acrylic base facing your palate and the metal wire facing out.
Insertion:
For Upper Arch: Carefully guide the metal wire across the front surface of your upper teeth, making sure the acrylic base fits snugly against the roof of your mouth.
For Lower Arch: Align the metal wire along the inside surface of your lower teeth, ensuring the acrylic touches the tongue side.
Adjust for Comfort: Once in place, adjust the retainer so it fits comfortably. The wire should not press painfully against any part of your mouth.
Check Alignment: Ensure the metal wire conforms to the natural alignment of your teeth and that the acrylic part does not impinge on your gums or mouth roof.
Inserting Clear Plastic Retainers
For optimal effectiveness, clear plastic retainers should be inserted with care:
Step 1: Align the Retainer: Start by aligning the retainer with your front teeth.
Step 2: Gently Press Into Place: Use your fingertips to gently press down on the retainer at your molars until it snaps securely into place. Avoid using force or biting down on the retainer, as this could damage it.
Removal:
Loosen the Retainer: Begin at one side of your mouth. Use your fingertips on the inside of your back molar to carefully pull the retainer away from your teeth.
Repeat and Remove: Repeat on the other side, then gently work the retainer away from your front teeth, ensuring it is completely disengaged.
Clean and Store: After removal, rinse the retainer under water, shake off excess moisture, and store it in its designated case. Regular cleaning before reinsertion is crucial to maintain both retainer hygiene and dental health.
Best Practices for Retainer Usage
To ensure your retainer functions effectively while maintaining its integrity:
Adhere closely to the guidelines provided by your dental care professional. If advised to wear your retainer full-time, do so diligently.
Regularly clean your retainer with a soft brush and gentle soap, avoiding harsh chemicals.
Always remove it during meals, store it safely in its case when not in use, and bring it to your dental appointments.
Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after meals before putting your retainer.
Practices to Avoid While Wearing Retainers
While retainers are essential for maintaining dental alignment post-treatment, certain habits can also reduce their effectiveness and lifespan. To prevent this:
Refrain from eating any food and drinking any beverages besides plain water while wearing your retainer.
Never leave your retainer out in the open, as it can dry out and become brittle.
Do not clean your retainer with hot water, bleach, or alcohol, which could warp or degrade it.
Avoid using abrasive cleaning agents that can scratch the retainer, making it vulnerable to bacteria.
Refrain from toying with or biting on your retainer, as these actions can lead to cracks and breakages.
Always remove your retainer before eating.
Do not soak your retainer in mouthwash.
Avoid wearing your retainer during contact sports; use a proper mouthguard instead.
Never wear a damaged retainer; consult your orthodontist if repairs or replacements are needed.
How Long Should You Wear Your Retainers?: Optimal Usage Schedule
Given the role of a retainer, it should come as no surprise that the duration and frequency of retainer use can significantly impact the stability of your dental alignment post-braces.
Initially, it is common for orthodontists to recommend wearing your retainer full-time, day and night, to ensure your teeth settle properly into their new positions. This period typically extends from several months up to a year, depending on individual needs and the specifics of your orthodontic treatment. Following this phase, you may be advised to wear your retainer only at night while sleeping to maintain alignment over the long term to prevent your teeth from gradually shifting out of place.
Do You Have to Wear a Retainer Forever?
The commitment to wearing a retainer is generally long-term and often lifelong, especially to ensure the lasting effectiveness of orthodontic treatments. Initially, most orthodontists advise wearing a removable retainer continuously for about nine months to a year after braces are removed. After this intensive phase, as mentioned, the usage typically transitions to nightly wear to maintain teeth alignment indefinitely. Some individuals might even have permanent retainers installed, which are designed to stay in place forever.
Consequences of Neglecting Retainer Wear
Now, it’s crucial to understand that your teeth naturally tend to move throughout your life. This means that completing orthodontic treatment alone doesn’t ensure the long-term stability of your teeth in their new positions indefinitely. This is because neglecting to wear your retainer as prescribed can lead to what is known as dental relapse—your teeth may start shifting back towards their original positions. This movement can happen quite quickly; if you skip wearing your retainer even for a few weeks or months, you might find that it no longer fits properly. In such cases, additional orthodontic treatment could become necessary to realign your teeth, sometimes within a decade or sooner after the initial treatment.
Best Practices for Retainer Maintenance
Maintaining your retainer properly is essential for its effectiveness and longevity, ensuring your orthodontic results last. As such, consider the following:
Caring for Fixed Retainers
Maintaining a bonded retainer requires diligent oral hygiene because it's not removable. Here’s how to keep it clean:
Flossing: Use a floss threader to navigate the floss beneath the wire of your fixed retainer. It might take a bit of practice, but effective flossing is key to preventing plaque buildup around the retainer.
Brushing: Employ a meticulous brushing technique. Position your toothbrush both vertically and horizontally to reach all around the retainer and tooth surfaces, ensuring you remove food particles and prevent plaque formation.
Cleaning Removable Retainers
For those with removable retainers, keeping them clean is just as crucial for oral health:
Rinsing: Always rinse your retainer with lukewarm water immediately after removing it to prevent debris from hardening.
Soaking: Use a dentist-recommended soaking solution to keep your retainer fresh and clean between uses.
Brushing: Gently brush your retainer daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and water. Avoid using toothpaste. This will help prevent scratches on the surface.
Avoid Heat: Never boil your retainer or place it in the dishwasher, as high temperatures can warp its shape.
Proper Retainer Storage Solutions
Ensuring your retainer is stored correctly when not in use is another critical factor when it comes to its longevity and effectiveness.
Therefore, always place your retainer in its designated case whenever you remove it from your mouth. This simple practice is the most effective way to protect it from damage, contamination, and loss. Keeping it in its case also reduces the risk of misplacement, which could lead to unnecessary expenses and delays in your orthodontic care.
Steps to Take if Retainers Are Damaged
If you discover that your retainer is damaged, don't worry—these issues are more common than you might think, and there are clear steps you can follow to resolve them:
Assess the Damage: Carefully examine your broken retainer for any sharp edges that could potentially injure your mouth.
Contact Your Orthodontist: As soon as possible, get in touch with your orthodontist to arrange an appointment.
Avoid DIY Repairs: It’s important not to attempt fixing the retainer yourself, as improper handling could further damage the retainer or harm your teeth and gums.
Keep All Pieces: Bring all pieces of the broken retainer to your appointment, as this will help your orthodontist understand what went wrong and how to address the issue.
Use Temporary Measures: If you are unable to see your orthodontist immediately, use orthodontic wax to cover any jagged edges on the retainer to protect your mouth.
Knowing When to Replace Your Retainers
Contrary to popular belief, retainers don't last forever. Therefore, recognising when to replace them is key to ensuring your teeth remain in their desired position.
Consider these signs and factors that might indicate it’s time for a new retainer:
Teeth Grinding or Clenching: If you grind or clench your teeth, especially at night, this can cause significant wear and tear on your retainer, diminishing its effectiveness and durability.
Loss or Breakage: Sometimes, accidents happen. If your retainer is lost or broken, replacing it immediately is necessary to continue your post-orthodontic care.
Teeth Shifting: If you notice your teeth are shifting, this could be a sign that your retainer is no longer providing the necessary support, and a replacement might be required to correct the issue.
Fit and Comfort Issues: Over time, retainers can become deformed or cease to fit as snugly as they once did. If your retainer doesn’t fit well anymore, it’s time to consult your orthodontist for a replacement.
Scheduling a Dental Appointment in Singapore
Maintaining a beautiful smile goes beyond just wearing your retainer. Maintaining routine dental check-ups is also essential for the long-term effectiveness of your dental treatments, including dental braces and Invisalign braces. These check-ups provide your dentist with the opportunity to assess your oral health, and make any necessary adjustments to your retainers, and provide professional cleanings and care.
Don’t wait for discomfort or visible issues to arise; proactively schedule your next dental appointment at dental clinics like Sincere Dental to keep your smile bright and healthy.
