How to take care of your retainers?

Retainers are a small removable prosthetic appliance made of metal wires, acrylic or plastic that you will need to wear once your braces have been removed. Taking care of retainers is essential as a dirty retainer can harbor bacteria as well as can cause bad breath in your mouth. Along with cleaning you will need to protect your retainer from damage as retainers are very expensive to replace. Here are some steps on how to take care of retainers after braces:

1. Avoid foods that may damage your retainer: Removable retainers can be removed before eating however fixed retainers are bonded to the teeth which means there will be food restrictions on foods that can damage your retainers.
   Avoid hard or crunchy foods.
   Do not eat sticky foods such as caramel, hard candy or gum.
   Avoid sweets and soda in general to prevent tooth decay.
   Reduce consumption of high acidity food and drinks.
2. Clean your retainer regularly: Retainers must be cleaned regularly just as natural teeth. You will also need to floss your teeth to get between the teeth and above or below the retainer wire. For a special care you can use a denture cleaner or soak it in mouthwash and water mixture.
3. Keep the retainer moisturized: Retainers can dry out very easily if they are not kept moisturized. Since your mouth is naturally wet whenever you are not wearing your retainer, you’ll need to keep them in a place where it won’t get damaged or dry out such as:
   Soaking in cool water.
   Soaking in distilled water which does not contain any harsh chemicals.
4. Store it in a protective case: Retainers have to be stored properly to prevent cracking and damage. The protective case will help to keep the retainer from being lost and will also protect them from pets.
5. Keep retainers away from heat: It is crucial not to leave the retainers in areas which can cause too much heat exposure. You’ll have to make sure to keep them off from direct sunlight, near the stove or by a heater, boiling or hot water and cars.
6. Follow your orthodontist’s instructions: Whether your retainer is fixed or removable you must carefully follow instructions given by your orthodontist for cleaning and caring for your retainer. They will guide you on special cleaning instructions and food restrictions that you need to follow for your retainers after braces.

Different types of retainers and ways to clean those retainers.

You can get a professional service with variety of retainers. There are three different types of retainers:

Hawley retainers: Hawley retainers are made of hard acrylic and orthodontic wire. The acrylic is molded to fit your mouth with wires strategically placed across the front of the teeth to help to hold them in place. Hawley retainers are removable therefore they are easy to clean.
Clear plastic retainers: Clear plastic retainers also known as essix retainers are made of thin, clear plastic that are molded to the fit shape of your teeth. Clear retainer is pretty much invisible and is easy to remove.
Fixed or bonded retainers: Fixed or bonded retainers also known as permanent retainers are attached to your lower front teeth. Since they are attached to your teeth you can’t remove this retainer which makes it hard to clean.

Ways to clean hawley and clear plastic retainers:

• Make sure that you clean your retainer as soon as you remove them this will make it easier to clean debrises before they harden.
• Brush your retainer with lukewarm water after every meal.
• Mix lukewarm water with mild dish soap or a toothpaste for a deep clean. Use a soft bristled brush to gently scrub plaque and debris away.
• You can also use a cotton swab to get deep into the grooves and ridges on clear plastic retainers.
• If the dentist recommends you can soak your retainer in a denture cleaner.

Ways to clean fixed or bonded retainers:

• Take a 6-inch piece of floss and use it to thread the floss between your two front lower teeth.
• Hold one end of the floss with your fingers and another with the floss threader.
• After you get the floss under your retainer wire, move it up and down from between the teeth to the gum line.
• Slide the floss sideways to the area that you want to clean. Pull down the floss until it’s between your teeth.
• Repeat the process with each tooth that is attached to your fixed retainer.