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Retainer Care and Maintenance

Live Life Smiling

retainer-care
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • October 20, 2022

 

BRACES-OFF DAY will get here much sooner than you think, provided that you’re following the orthodontist’s instructions, but that won’t be the end of your orthodontic treatment. To keep the properly aligned smile you’ve worked so hard for, you’ll need to be diligent in wearing your retainers. There are many differences between braces and retainers, including the best ways to take care of them.

Why Is It Important to Clean a Retainer?

Just like our teeth, a retainer will accumulate bacteria, plaque, and tartar over time unless it is cleaned. We keep it from building up on our teeth by brushing and flossing, and we have to clean retainers regularly too or they will soon become filmy, cloudy, foul-tasting, smelly, and covered in white spots.

If you have a removable retainer, you should rinse it with cool water and brush it with gentle soap at least once a day. Floss around a permanent retainer to keep tartar from building up around it. Threaders make flossing around them easier, as do water flossers.

How to Deep-Clean a Retainer

aily cleanings can only do so much, however, which is why it’s important to give your retainer the occasional deep clean to keep it good as new. The hygienist will do the deep cleaning for you at your regular appointments if you have a bonded retainer, but cleaning a removable retainer at home is simple and cheap.

If you want to get special retainer cleaning tablets you can, but a simple mixture of water and baking soda will do the job very well, or water and vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. Simply soak the retainer for a few minutes, then rinse it and let it dry. A warning, though: never use hot water or harsh chemicals like bleach!

How to Store Your Retainer

Unlike braces, retainers are often only a part-time orthodontic appliance, so storage is important. Harmful bacteria thrive in warm, damp enclosed environments — such as the inside of a closed retainer case. Keep your retainer somewhere safe and cool where it can dry fully between uses. (That’s also how you should store your toothbrush.)

Some types of retainers do better soaking in water instead of being left to dry out, so make sure to check with us about care tips for your type of retainer.

Do Retainers Really Matter?

Teeth can drift over time, so yes, retainers are important. The supporting structures holding our teeth into the jawbone take time to get used to the post-braces position. Wearing retainers as directed by the orthodontist is the best way to ensure that your jaws get used to the new position of teeth and so that they don’t start moving in new directions.

Bring Us Your Retainer Questions!

No matter what kind of retainer you have, from bonded to removable, from wire and acrylic to clear plastic, we’re here to answer your questions about their care and maintenance. Retention is a critical stage of your orthodontic treatment, and we want to help you have the best possible experience and result!

Congrats on moving from braces to retainers!

Top image by Flickr user VSPYCC used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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Patient reviews

EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

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Jane E.
It isn't always easy to find providers that are especially patient and kind to patients with special needs. This group ALWAYS go out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The staff is wonderful! We are extremely blessed to have the orthodontic care we need from this business.
Jane E.
It isn't always easy to find providers that are especially patient and kind to patients with special needs. This group ALWAYS go out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The staff is wonderful! We are extremely blessed to have the orthodontic care we need from this business.
Legacy S.
Today at Drs Holmes and Palmer my Granddaughter ,Legacy Spurlock , had her braces put on.
I am so happy we Chose them. Not only was the Young lady, putting the braces on very nice That made Legacyy feel very comfortable and answered every question that she asked, and she asked a lot.
We are home now. She doesn’t need anything for pain, She is very proud of her Yes braces and her experience she had.
Thank you to every one that made her experience. One she will always remember.
Legacy S.
Today at Drs Holmes and Palmer my Granddaughter ,Legacy Spurlock , had her braces put on.
I am so happy we Chose them. Not only was the Young lady, putting the braces on very nice That made Legacyy feel very comfortable and answered every question that she asked, and she asked a lot.
We are home now. She doesn’t need anything for pain, She is very proud of her Yes braces and her experience she had.
Thank you to every one that made her experience. One she will always remember.
Staci A.
Very friendly and experienced. Awesome with kids! My son, Evan is 9 and was a little nervous for his first orthodontist consult appointment. They worked well showing and explaining everything they were getting ready to do. Even let him “help” some!! He has a follow up in 6 months to see if it’s time for his braces then. He’s not as worried about his next appointment now. Highly recommend!! Thank you!
Staci A.
Very friendly and experienced. Awesome with kids! My son, Evan is 9 and was a little nervous for his first orthodontist consult appointment. They worked well showing and explaining everything they were getting ready to do. Even let him “help” some!! He has a follow up in 6 months to see if it’s time for his braces then. He’s not as worried about his next appointment now. Highly recommend!! Thank you!
Jessie P.
They are very nice and friendly and such wonderful place would definitely recommend.
Jessie P.
They are very nice and friendly and such wonderful place would definitely recommend.
Amanda “ManDee” T.
This Orthodontist and the employees are amazing. They're very patient and kind with the young patients... I highly recommend!!!!
Amanda “ManDee” T.
This Orthodontist and the employees are amazing. They're very patient and kind with the young patients... I highly recommend!!!!
kristen W.
This is our first experience with orthodontics and we are very pleased with the service and friendliness of staff! They are so helpful and welcoming! Definitely recommend to my friends and family!
kristen W.
This is our first experience with orthodontics and we are very pleased with the service and friendliness of staff! They are so helpful and welcoming! Definitely recommend to my friends and family!
Andrea H.
Great customer service as always! The ladies at the front desk are always welcoming and very friendly. We appreciate the promptness of getting our daughter in for an emergency visit!
Andrea H.
Great customer service as always! The ladies at the front desk are always welcoming and very friendly. We appreciate the promptness of getting our daughter in for an emergency visit!
Emily B.
They are awesome with my girl and offer brace bucks! Great reinforcement and amazing people! 😊
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    Huntington, WV 25701
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  • 2000 Carter Ave.
    Ashland, KY 41101
  • 606-388-2561

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