Proper care of your braces and retainer is a pivotal part of making the most out of your orthodontic treatment. While simply wearing these appliances may seem sufficient enough to correct your dental flaws, developing easy hygiene habits that keep these appliances in clean, functional condition can have a vast impact on ensuring your treatment is as effective as possible. This is especially true in cases involving orthodontics for children, as teeth are still developing and require special care.
Failure to maintain the hygiene of your braces can lead to gum disease and plaque buildup, ultimately prolonging the length of your treatment. Fortunately, caring for your braces is much the same as a normal oral hygiene regimen and mostly consists of daily brushing and flossing. However, to keep the metal wiring, rubber bands, and springs in your mouth as plaque-free as possible, following the simple tips below from our doctors can help you remove food from the hard-to-reach areas around your braces.
How Do I Care for My Braces?
Keeping braces in great condition involves two main steps: avoiding foods that can cause tooth decay, and thoroughly cleaning braces to prevent plaque buildup. A restricted diet may not sound ideal, but taking care now to limit plaque-attracting foods can save you time, money, and office visits in the future. Generally, orthodontic patients should limit foods that are sticky, hard, chewy, or easily caught within braces’ different metal components. These foods may include:
- Caramel, taffy, gummy candy, gooey chocolate bars
- Gum, popcorn, or hard candies
- Sticky or chunky peanut butter
The foods listed above can break wiring and ultimately prolong the length of time required to straighten teeth. Food will naturally become caught in your braces; however, limiting foods that cause the most tooth decay can minimize the risk of orthodontic complications in the future.
How Do I Clean My Braces?
Braces can be a highly effective way to straighten teeth and correct jaw position, but they also easily attract plaque and decay if food particles are not brushed away. Fortunately, simple flossing and brushing is typically enough to clean stains from the surface of teeth and braces. For comprehensive flossing, patients can use a floss pick or waterpik to remove food between wiring. Brushing between braces with a proxabrush, or “Christmas tree” brush, can also easily reach food between brackets and rubber bands. Our doctors usually recommend that teeth are brushed with a fluoride toothpaste after every meal.
How Do I Care for My Retainer?
While many patients underestimate the importance of regularly wearing their retainer, the truth is that the retainer serves as the important final step of your orthodontic treatment. Retainers allow your jaw and teeth to remain in their newly aligned position and protect them from shifting. Neglecting to wear your removable retainer – especially in the first six months after braces are removed or Invisalign® treatment is complete – can cause your teeth to revert back to their old position and may even warrant further treatment.
To keep your teeth in their desired position, retainers should be worn full-time for at least the first two to six months; however, this ultimately depends on each patient’s unique needs. Our orthodontic team will give you a clearer idea of how long it may be necessary to wear your retainer once that stage of the treatment process begins. If you believe a non-removable retainer fixed to your teeth would be most beneficial to you, you can inquire with one of our doctors about whether a fixed retainer would serve your needs. Otherwise, retainers should only be removed while eating, swimming, or engaging in certain recreational activities. After the first few months, our team can consult with you about a new treatment plan in which it may only be necessary to wear your retainer at night (depending on your specific orthodontic needs). To prevent a retainer from becoming brittle and breaking, it should also be cleaned daily and placed in its case when not in use.
How Do I Clean My Retainer?
Neglecting to clean your retainer can make it weak and decrease its lifespan, but simply brushing your retainer daily can ensure it remains in durable condition. Brushing both sides of the retainer with a normal toothbrush and toothpaste is generally sufficient enough to remove bacteria; retainers should never be placed in cleaning solution or boiling water. If necessary you can further sanitize your retainer using denture cleaner or or a glass of water with baking soda. Additionally, try to avoid handling the retainer by its back edges, as this can cause breaks and cracks.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Retainers
Will wearing my retainer affect my speech?
Wearing a retainer may cause a slight change in speech at first, such as a small lisp, but this is usually temporary. As your mouth adjusts and your tongue adapts to the retainer, speech typically returns to normal within a few days. Practicing speaking, reading aloud, or talking more often while wearing the retainer can help speed up the adjustment process. Consistent wear is important not only for maintaining your smile but also for helping your mouth adapt quickly.
Can I eat or drink with my retainer in?
It’s best not to eat or drink anything other than water while wearing a retainer. Food can get stuck, causing bacteria buildup, stains, or damage to the appliance. Sugary or acidic drinks may also increase the risk of tooth decay and discoloration. Removable retainers should be taken out before meals and stored safely in their case. After eating, brush your teeth and rinse your retainer before putting it back in. Following these guidelines can help keep both your retainer and your smile clean, healthy, and protected for long-lasting orthodontic results.
Can I wear my retainer while playing sports?
You should not rely on a retainer as protection while playing sports. Retainers are not designed to absorb impact and could break or cause injury if hit. Instead, it’s recommended to remove your retainer during practices or games and wear a properly fitted mouthguard for safety. Afterward, you can place your retainer back in to keep your teeth aligned. Always store it in its case to prevent loss or damage.
Can I stop wearing my retainer once my teeth feel straight?
No, you should not stop wearing your retainer just because your teeth feel straight. Without consistent retainer use, teeth can gradually shift back to their original positions, undoing the progress made with braces or aligners. Retainers help maintain your smile by keeping teeth in their new alignment while the surrounding bone and tissues stabilize. Even if your teeth look straight, they can still move over time without support. Our doctors can give specific instructions on how long and how often to wear your retainer to protect your results for years to come.
Taking simple steps to care for your braces and retainer can make all the difference in preserving your new smile for as long as possible. To learn more about proper orthodontic wear and care, or to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Murphy, please contact our practice today.